November Town&Gown 2016

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WarStories With the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor — and the United States’ involvement in World War II — approaching, the heroism and bravery from those who served are remembered

Inside: The State Theatre’s turnaround • Holiday Gift Guide

T es E M AYat FcFt P! fic Ufe 2 t NtDi B r en er pe Os SUC CHe PTre ift thAaM y e G UrN a 0lid BR0:H3o 1

Come warm up by the fire

and enjoy happy hours at The Adam’s Apple

Sunday Brunch Buffet 10:30 am to 2 pm

Now taking reservations for Holiday Parties, Graduation, & New Years.

220 E. College Ave., State College 814-238-6116 • www.thetavern.com

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Culbertson Financial Services

• Insurance • Investment Services • Employee Benefits

Dan Aiello

LPL Investment Advisor Representative

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Joel Confer BMW 120 E. Clinton Ave. State College, PA 16803

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Special lease and finance offers will be available by Joel Confer BMW through BMW Financial Services.

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®

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features 26 / International Education Experiences Study-abroad students reflect on their time away from Happy Valley

34 / Continuing to Make a Splash

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Thanks to public pools, public parks, and more, Centre Region Parks and Recreation has helped keep Happy Valley residents active and enjoying the great outdoors for 50 years • by Jodi Morelli

60 / War Stories With the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor — and the United States’ involvement in World War II — approaching, the heroism and bravery from those who served are remembered • by Mike Dawson

68 / The Science of the State’s Success

68 On the Cover: Design by Darren Andrew Weimert. A photo of and war memorabilia belonging to Henry Burman, who flew a B-17 during World War II. His plane was shot down in France in 1943, and he was a prisoner of war for two years. His is just one of several “War Stories” in this month’s cover story.

As the State Theatre prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary since its reopening, it has rebounded from a struggling theater to where it’s now a vibrant performing arts center • by Susanna Paul

Special Advertising Sections 43 / Money Matters Our annual guide can help you find the financial institutions, investment specialists, and advisors that are right for you — and your money

75 / Holiday Gift Guide Everything from stocking stuffers to unique special presents for loved ones, the “Holiday Gift Guide” can help you find where to go and what to buy

Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2016 by Barash Media. All rights reserved.

Send address changes to Town&Gown, 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher.

Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st‑class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. townandgown.com

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departments

10 Letter From The Editor 12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A

20 Living Well: How to end a relationship in a healthy way • by Meghan Fritz 22 Health: Lifelong management is key for chronic inflammatory bowel disease • by Nicholas Inverso, MD 24 On Center: Canadian-born Bria Skonberg’s “vocal and horn chops intertwine seamlessly” • by John Mark Rafacz 92 This Month on WPSU

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108 95 What’s Happening: Penn State men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, Twelfth Night, Tree Lighting, George Takei, and more highlight November’s events 104 From the Vine: Vintage matters more to some regions than others when it comes to producing quality wine • by Lucy Rogers 108 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: Dam Donuts provides some creativity to the sweet treat • by Vilma Shu Danz 118 Lunch with Mimi: State College’s House of Care provides love and support to those in need 122 State College Photo Club’s Winning Photos 124 Snapshot: State College’s police chief looks to continue to build trust within the community • by Tine Liu

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Selling?

Town&Gown November

A State College & Penn State tradition since 1966.

Publisher Rob Schmidt Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director David Pencek

1kbb.com 1612 N. Atherton St. State College, PA

814.238.8080

2300 S. Atherton St. State College, PA

814.234.4000

Creative Director Tiara Snare Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Art Director/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Cody Peachey Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Administrative Assistant Lana Bernhard Interns Tine Liu (editorial), Jackie Taylor (marketing) Distribution Handy Delivery

To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 dpenc@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification.

Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.

Facebook.com/townandgownsc @TownGownSC townandgown.com 8 - T&G November 2016

We Cover What’s Important To You

GAMEDAY Be sure to pick up The Centre County Gazette for GAZETTE GAMEDAY every week during football season. It’s your weekly comprehensive guide to Penn State football — featuring rosters, depth charts, statistics, schedules and standings.

Remember - Make Thursday Your Day to pick up The Centre County Gazette To advertise call 814-525-8867 or contact your Account Executive

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letter from the editor

Honoring Our Heroes A month filled with stories about and by those who served Depending on when you’re reading this, we’re either just a few days from electing a new president or we already know who that person is. One of the many disappointing aspects about this year’s presidential campaign, and there were many, is the fact that issues that affect most of us — the economy, health care, security — weren’t discussed in much detail.

Among the topics that didn’t receive a lot attention were our military and our veterans. A few years ago, the scandal broke concerning how our veterans were being treated — or not treated — by our Veterans Affairs hospitals. What happened to that? Are veterans being treated better since then? Not according to a story in the Washington Times in April.

In the story, John Cooper, a spokesman for Concerned Veterans for America, said, “The VA is still struggling with a lack of accountability, an inability to properly manage a budget rapidly approaching $200 billion, and a failure to provide veterans with timely access to care and benefits. The VA is broken ….”

While there are obviously historical reasons why Veterans Day is November 11, it would nice, and maybe appropriate, if the day fell right before Election Day each year, so the candidates would be forced to talk about veterans’ issues more, and we as voters could take that extra moment to really think about who we want as the next Commander in Chief.

This November is a special month for Town&Gown when it comes to those who served. Our monthly issue features the cover story, “War Stories,” by Mike Dawson. With this December 7 being the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into World War II, the piece spotlights some World War II

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veterans who now live in Centre County or had ties to Centre County.

Then there’s our special insert, Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans. The publication includes profiles on local veterans and stories from veteran Adam Hartswick and Daniel Murphy, whose son, Michael, graduated from Penn State and posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during an operation in Afghanistan in 2005.

Thanks to Salute to Veterans, Town&Gown is donating $5,000 to help kick off the fund-raising drive to bring the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Centre County next October.

On a few occasions, I’ve written about veterans and the military in this space.

The people who are serving or have served this country are just amazing to me — and it’s not just because of their service and what they’ve done for our country. It’s how they talk about their service and what they’ve done, in that, they don’t really talk about it. The many I’ve been honored to chat with viewed their service as simply a job they did.

They don’t see themselves as many others do — as heroes.

Perhaps it’s because — as is said near the end of the movie Black Hawk Down, as Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann, played by Josh Harnett, sits beside one of his fallen comrades — “Nobody asks to be a hero; it just sometimes turns out that way.”

David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com

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starting off

The List What to know about November Americans head to the polls (or least some of us do) and choose their next President. Election Day is November 8, so go out and vote!

November is especially an exciting month this year because besides the usual festivities with Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas, we’ll find out who the next President of the United States will be! Of course, given how divided the country is, half of the country will be depressed once the winner is announced.

Veterans Day is November 11 as we honor those who served this country. A few days prior, on November 5, Penn State football hosts Iowa for its Military Appreciation Day game, and on November 6, the State College Area Municipal Band performs its annual Veterans Day Concert at Mount Nittany Middle School.

One of the best creations ever has its day — Sandwich Day is November 3.

King Tut Day is November 4. While it’s meant to celebrate the day King Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922, one can’t help but think of Steve Martin’s famous song about the young Egyptian ruler.

Time to fall back and gain an hour — Daylight Saving Time ends November 6.

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This region is bursting with entrepreneurism, and what better way to recognize that than with the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State, which is November 13-17, with events at various locations.

It’s Turkey Day! Happy Thanksgiving on November 24.

And after the Thanksgiving feast, many will rush to the stores for Black Friday sales on November 25.

Of course, we encourage to Buy Local! And don’t forget that Small Business Saturday is November 26.

Check out Town&Gown’s annual “Gift Guide” that starts on page 77 for some unique gift ideas from local businesses. T&G

People in the Community Penn State Women’s Soccer

Five members of the Penn State women’s soccer team were named to the US U-20 Women’s National Team for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The tournament is November 13 to December 3 in Papua New Guinea.

Penn State will be represented by Rose Chandler, Maddie Elliston, Ellie Jean, Emily Ogle, and Kaleigh Riehl.

“The selection of five of our players to the US U-20 Women’s National Team is a testament to the entire program and the quality competition these players face on a regular basis,” Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach said in a press release.

Chandler and Riehl will be making their second appearance on the national team as each made the 2014 roster.

Trout Unlimited – Spring Creek Chapter

The Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited received the organization’s top award, the Gold Trout Award, during the organization’s national awards banquet in late September in Montana.

In showcasing why the Spring Creek Chapter earned the award, the national organization of Trout Unlimited wrote that the chapter has a “focus on building community, on reaching people not typically touched by [Trout Unlimited]. … The chapter is constantly hosting events and activities, including their robust Veterans Service Partnership program where hundreds of veterans have experienced the power of both healing and community, thanks to SCCTU.” Chapter president Bob Vierck and former president Judi Sittler traveled to Montana to receive the award.

WPSU Penn State

Two WPSU Penn State productions won Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards this fall.

The production You Can’t Say That, with executive producer Jeff Hughes and producer Lindsey Whissel Fenton, won an Emmy in the Education/Schools – Program/ Special category. The program documented “Penn State’s popular race and ethnic relations course in which Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey paired provocative lectures and facilitated student discussions to promote cross-cultural understanding.”

Holding History: The Collections of Charles L. Blockson, with producer/director/writer Cheraine Stanford and writer Cole Cullen, won an Emmy in the Human Interest Program/ Special category. The program told the story of historian and bibliophile Charles Blockson and “his lifelong journey to unearth and preserve history, culture, and contributions of people of the African desert.”

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Mid-Atlantic Chapter represents Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio. T&G

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I got screened to celebrate my birthday.

Now I’m talking about it.

When Sandy turned 50, she got her first colonoscopy.

Colon Cancer screening saves lives.

Make an appointment today by calling 814-272-4445.

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Q&A with Gail Addison Guss, chairperson of the Park Forest Preschool board and co-chairperson of the State College Holiday Home Tour committee

By Tine Liu Seeing how different homes decorate for the holidays is always a special part of the season. It also has become a special fund-raiser for Park Forest Preschool, a nonprofit, tuition-free school for 2-, 3-, and 4-yearold children from lowincome families.

The 2016 Holiday Home Tour in the College Heights neighborhood will benefit Park Forest Preschool. This year’s event is December 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. Gail Addison Guss chairs the 2016 State College Holiday Home Tour committee, and she took time to talk about the event.

T&G: Can you talk about the preschool program and its history?

Guss: Park Forest Preschool has been providing services for children and families for 49 years. It is designed as a mission of Park Forest Village United Methodist Church to serve children who can’t afford to go to preschool and get them ready for kindergarten. The program is funded by the Centre County United Way, but most of the budget is raised through fund-raising.

The tour this year is created not only to raise awareness and funding for the program but also to provide a great experience for people who participate.

T&G: What’s exciting about the tour?

Guss: The theme this year is “Open Doors … Open Hearts.” It will be a self-guided walking tour. We have chosen six houses in College Heights, and all of them have interesting stories. There will be a scavenger hunt at each house where people can walk around and identify interesting items along their way. The person with the most correct answers after six homes will win a cash prize. There will also be a raffle in each home, either a themed basket or artwork.

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In each house there will be a team of five to six board members and teachers from Park Forest Preschool. They will be there answering questions and guide people through the homes.

Everyone on the tour will be given a brochure that has a picture of the house and a brief introduction when they purchase a ticket.

T&G: How is the community supporting the program?

Guss: Each house on the tour is sponsored by local businesses.

We also receive direct donations from them, as well. Three years ago, when we did our first tour, we had about 250 people who signed up and bought the tickets. A lot of them bought the tickets just to support the preschool, even though they might not have time to actually participate.

T&G: Who is likely to participate?

Guss: We had a variety of different people participate in 2013.

This year, we are hoping to have some women’s groups, book clubs, church groups, etc. We hope it will have a wide appeal in this town. We will publicize the event also through Global Connections in the hope of attracting some international participants. Tickets will be available through the school, our board members, and local businesses on the day of the event. The cost is $10. We hope people will bring extra dollars to buy raffle tickets and play the scavenger hunt. T&G The 2016 Holiday Home Tour to benefit Park Forest Preschool is from 1 to 5 p.m.

December 4 in College Heights.

For more information, e-mail Gail Addison Guss at gailguss@ comcast.net or call (814) 883-3667.

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This Monthtownandgown.com On

• In 5 Questions, Penn State’s Small Business Development Center director Heather Fennessey McWhorter talks about Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is November 12-16.

• For a special offer for a free donut with purchase of a large coffee from 3 to 6 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday at Dam Donuts in Bellefonte, visit townandgown.com.

• Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2016-17 Penn State Winter Sports Annual.

And more!

Visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TownGownSC.

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living well

Breaking Up is Hard to Do How to end a relationship in a healthy way

By Meghan Fritz

The dating world can be brutal. It can rip your self-esteem apart and cause you to always second-guess whether you are good enough or worthy of a healthy, loving relationship.

One of the hardest things about putting yourself out there in the dating world is the risk of being dumped. While a breakup can be a challenging thing to go through, it doesn’t have to be full of drama and pain.

When you are in the process of dating and trying to find a life partner, recognize and remember that dating is a risk. You risk getting hurt and you risk being rejected, but what is the alternative? Do you really want to sit on your couch alone with your remote control to keep yourself safe from getting hurt?

If you are going to put yourself out there, own the risk that comes with dating and resist the temptation to make it a dramatic, neurotic journey that leaves you feeling exhausted and anxious. Be as clear and direct as you can with communication and recognize that risk is part of the journey. Embrace the fear and anxiety and detach from personalizing every dating experience.

One of the hardest things about dating can be letting the person know you are not interested in continuing a romantic relationship. Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do want. If you are willing to date, you have to be willing to have some uncomfortable conversations in an honest adult manner.

If you are dating someone for a few weeks or months or even years and come to the realization that you are not interested in a committed long-term relationship, be direct 20 - T&G November 2016

and honest with the person. Take the time to sit down with the person and give them a clear, direct statement of how you feel and that you don’t want to continue the relationship.

“I have come to the conclusion that this is not a relationship that I see headed toward a long-lasting partnership. I appreciate the time we have spent together, but I want to be honest with you that I don’t want to continue the relationship.”

Being honest and direct with someone is not being rude or unkind, it is about being respectful and emotionally mature.

I have seen many individuals hurt and confused because the person they were dating “ghosted.” This is when the person cowardly backs away from the relationship with no explanation.

They start distancing themselves from you, taking longer to return calls and texts, and eventually they ghost the relationship.

If you have been ghosted, recognize that this is a behavior that has nothing to do with you.

Rather, it is about the other person’s inability to speak truthfully and honestly. It is the coward’s way out.

While being direct about not wanting to continue a relationship may hurt the other person, it is far more hurtful to disappear and offer no explanation or closure to the person you are dating.

When you walk away without being direct, the other person is left with anxiety, confusion, and a paranoia that they have done something horrible. While a direct conversation stings, a gradual distancing and gray conversation leaves the other person in limbo and self-torture.

I remember very clearly a conversation I had with someone when I was certain it would not be a good fit. I told the person that with my personality I needed a

partner who would not be afraid to tell me to back off or that I was being bossy or difficult. I let this person know that I thought they were very kind but had a very passive personality.

At first, they were furious and offended by my words. I explained that wanting to partner with someone with a more direct personality was my preference as an individual and that I needed to be true to what I wanted. The conversation was uncomfortable and tense.

A few weeks later the person called me and actually thanked me for being so direct and honest. In thinking about what I had said, they called previous girlfriends for feedback, and in the end he felt he learned a great deal about himself. He used the feedback in a positive way that helped him learn and grow. We ended up becoming lifelong friends.

While the person may not like what you have to say, you owe it to yourself and them to be honest and direct.

If it is a case where you feel that there are major red flags with the person’s personality (angry outbursts, rude, bad temper) address it factually and quickly. “The way you spoke

to that waitress was rude and offensive, I’m not comfortable continuing this date.” Exit immediately when your intuition is trying to get your attention and don’t over explain why you are uncomfortable. Simply address it and exit.

Never compromise your peace of mind to be polite or nice. Our intuition is the internal GPS system that keeps us safe and on the right path.

Recognize that dating offers you a chance to learn, grow, and work on polishing your communication skills. If you are not comfortable being direct and honest with yourself and others, then you are not ready to date. Being honest and direct is part of leading a healthy adult life, whether you apply that to dating, your career, or anything in your life.

If you are ready to date, recognize dating is a risk and a necessary part of finding a partner.

Resist the urge to personalize and analyze every experience, be direct and honest, follow your GPS, and have fun! You are worth it! T&G Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College.

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health

Nicholas Inverso, MD

Intestinal Fortitude Lifelong management is key for chronic inflammatory bowel disease

By Nicholas Inverso, MD

IBS vs. IBD: that one-letter difference in diagnosis can result in a lifetime difference in treatment and management.

Both IBS and IBD cause disturbances in a person’s bowel function. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by a group of symptoms, often including chronic abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea or constipation.

IBS does not cause inflammation of or permanent harm to the intestines.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a more serious condition involving chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. IBD involves an abnormal response by the body’s immune system to something in the intestinal tract. Researchers aren’t sure what exactly triggers this attack by the immune system — perhaps a bacteria, yeast, or other environmental substance. IBD also seems to run in families, although it may not become active until triggered.

Symptoms and diagnosis The two primary forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon, or large intestine, while Crohn’s disease can impact the entire gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Both diseases share common symptoms, which can include: • Diarrhea.

• Rectal bleeding.

• Urgent need to move bowels.

• Abdominal cramps and pain.

• Feeling of incomplete evacuation.

• Constipation.

• Fever.

• Fatigue.

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IBD symptoms often begin in teenagers or young adults. In Centre County, with its large population of Penn State students in this age group, it is not uncommon to see IBD and IBS patients. Some of these patients were diagnosed before starting college and need local medical professionals to help manage their condition. Other patients are experiencing their first symptoms and turn to local health-care professionals for help in diagnosing their condition.

The first step in diagnosing IBD is listening to the patient’s experiences with his or her symptoms, including the nature of the symptoms, when symptoms appeared, and recent changes in lifestyle, stress, or diet. A simple case of acute diarrhea doesn’t necessarily warrant complete gastrointestinal testing.

However, bleeding or weight loss may be an indicator that inflammation is present. Crohn’s disease also can cause skin rashes or fissures (tears) in the lining of the intestine or anus, as well as fistulas that can occur on the skin Initial diagnostics typically involve blood tests to identify anemia, infection, or elevated white blood cells counts that can indicate inflammation. Severe pain or bleeding could indicate the need for X-rays, MRIs, or a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to directly examine the intestines.

Individualized treatment Treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis vary depending on the individual patient and symptoms. Because IBD is a chronic disease — a lifelong condition — the goal is to minimize symptoms and maximize remissions. Medication options include: • Topical anti-inflammatory drugs, including mesalamine, to reduce inflammation in the intestinal tract.

• Steroids, for short-term reduction of inflammation.

• Immunomodulators, which suppress the body’s immune response thereby reducing inflammation.

• Biologic therapies, which interrupt the inflammatory cascade, in the body reducing inflammation.

Although physicians try to avoid surgery for IBD patients, sometimes it is necessary when patients develop fistulas, fissures, or intestinal obstructions that do not respond to medical approaches. Because ulcerative colitis involves only the colon, removing the colon can cure the disease. For Crohn’s patients, although surgery can be part of the strategy to reduce symptoms, it is not curative. Patients and their providers should work together to discuss the risks and benefits of medical and surgical approaches to determine the best individual plan of action.

Managing long-term health The intestinal tract plays an important role in fueling the body — this is where many nutrients are broken down and absorbed to provide energy and other components for the body’s health. IBD often reduces appetite, and diarrhea decreases the body’s ability to absorb key nutrients; this can cause malnutrition and weight loss. When IBD is active, it places further demands on the body to heal itself and requires additional energy. That means it is essential for IBD patients to maintain good nutrition. Many patients also believe they experience less discomfort when following a bland diet than when they eat spicy or highfiber foods.

Avoiding stress also may help reduce suffering for IBD patients. It is unknown whether stress actually causes symptoms or rather makes patients more aware of them.

Either way, reducing stress often helps patients feel better.

Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are lifelong conditions, but with proper management, they don’t have to impact a patient’s lifespan. Open communication between health-care providers and patients provides the best opportunity to successfully manage IBD and permits coordinated, individualized care to patients to provide the best chance to live a full and active life. T&G Penn State Health will soon be providing patients in State College and surrounding areas with the opportunity to be involved in nationwide studies of the most advanced treatments for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease at the earliest possible time in the patient’s care.

Living with IBD can be challenging.

Penn State Health offers a support group for patients and family members. The next support group meeting will be held November 8 at Penn State Medical Group, 1850 East Park Avenue, Suite 207, in State College.

To learn more about the support group or clinical trials, please call clinical-research coordinator, Amy Behe, RN, BSN, at (814) 689-0014.

Nicholas Inverso, MD, is a gastroenterologist with the Penn State Endoscopy Center, a part of Penn State Health, in State College. For more information or to make an appointment, call (814) 272-4445.

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on center

Hott Jazz

Canadian-born Bria Skonberg’s “vocal and horn chops intertwine seamlessly”

By John Mark Rafacz Bria Skonberg

A New York Times critic describes Bria Skonberg as “the shining hope of hot jazz, on the strength of a clarion trumpet style indebted to Louis Armstrong, a smooth purr of a singing voice inspired by Anita O’Day, and the wholesome glow of youth.”

Skonberg’s album, Bria, her major-label debut released in September, includes 14 songs. Most are standards such as “From This Moment On,” “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” and “Midnight Sun.” But five songs were written or co-written by Skonberg, who in addition to being a gifted trumpeter and engaging vocalist is an emerging composer.

“She exhibits stylistic shades of Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and Diana Krall,” writes an All About Jazz critic.

“She has a beautiful voice — both soul sultry and innocent sweet — and an instrumentalist’s feel for melodic line and rhythm. Her vocal and horn chops intertwine seamlessly.”

Skonberg makes her Penn State debut leading her quintet November 30 at Schwab Auditorium.

It’s been a swift ride to stardom for Skonberg, who didn’t exactly come of age in a hotbed of jazz. Growing up in Chilliwack, British Columbia, she says, she was more interested in playing sports than becoming a musician. But her public school had an excellent music program, she recalls, and by high school, she was not only playing trumpet but also fronting a local big band.

At 18, she made a beeline for Vancouver, where she earned a degree in jazz trumpet performance while taking gigs at the city’s music venues. But it didn’t take long for the singertrumpeter to outgrow Vancouver’s limited jazz scene.

“I wanted to move to L.A. I always had California dreams growing up. But by the time it was time to actually make the jump across the border, I just had so many more contacts in New York … ,” she says. “I had been bumping my head on the ceiling in Vancouver for a little while. I wanted to be immersed in a scene that would really, really challenge me, and New York just seemed like the top of that heap.”

Relocating to New York City in 2010 got Skonberg the notice she was missing north of the border.

“It allowed me to focus in a way, and I started studying … with a trumpet guy named Warren Vaché,” she says.

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Being surrounded by great musicians and the city’s patchwork of cultures from around the world helped her grow as an artist.

“It’s got the most authentic whatever style of music, whatever food you want to eat. You can get an extremely authentic version of it, or you can get an incredible, innovative version of it, too,” she says. “It’s just been fun to take it all in and then see how it influences my own music.”

Known for her understanding of classic jazz and her curious nature, she is fashioning an adventurous style rooted in New Orleans jazz and blues, world percussion, soul, and cabaret.

“I really like music that has a sense of allure to it — stuff that pulls you in but has a lot of dynamics, a lot of tension, that bluesy aspect to it. It’s very kind of like Duke Ellington, Sidney Bechet, New Orleans underground feel,” she says of the new album’s sound. “And yet somewhere where I think my trumpet and my voice meet are based around more Latin American styles, too, with percussion. It’s a fusion of all these elements that I think works.” T&G Patricia Best and Thomas Ray sponsor the concert. For information or tickets, visit cpa.psu.edu or phone (814) 863-0255.

John Mark Rafacz is the editorial manager of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State.

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International Educ a

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c ation Experiences Study abroad students reflect on their time away from Happy Valley International Education Week is November 14-18. The US Department of State and Department of Education team up each year to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. As part of the celebration, Penn State Directorate of Education Abroad holds an annual essay contest that provides study abroad alumni the opportunity to share their experiences. For the fourth consecutive year, Town&Gown is partnering with the program to publish the winning entries.

The contest is open to all current Penn State students who have participated or are currently participating in a Penn State study abroad program. During the 2015-16 academic year, Penn State sent more than 2,500 students abroad to 50 countries. The growing number of students who study abroad “reflects Penn State’s commitment to forging global citizens and global leaders.”

Here are the top two entries from the 2016 writing contest.

2016 November T&G - 27

The Carriers of a Brighter Future

By Erin Haney The presunrise gloom added a layer of despair to the scene. The morning air was crisp, and all I could think was how badly I wanted the sun to rise up over the Aegean. I was nervous, watching as the ferry slowly, and almost sluggishly, moved into the port of Athens and was tied off. I watched with anticipation as they lowered the gangplank. I The author rides a donkey on the island of Hydra. didn’t know what to expect or how this was going to go. The previous day, my professor had explained to me that the organization, Carry the Future, was attempting to help as many refugee families coming into carriers. One mother pushed her tiny son into Greece as possible. Our goal was to relieve just my arms as she was fit with the baby carrier, a fraction of its burdens. So I had been handed and his little hands grabbed at me and latched some baby carriers, told to follow a volunteer, on, his eyes were so big looking into mine, and and help her with the mothers. But I didn’t I felt like time had stopped for a minute before expect as many people as came crashing off he was pried from me and given back to his the boat in waves. mother.

There were so many people and there were Most times we were met with relief, a nod of so many children. So many little kids being thanks. Other times they were wary, pleading dragged by the hand, looking bewildered and they had no money. It was all so rushed — uncertain; some still half-asleep so that only the parents feared their buses to the border the placement of one foot in front of the other would leave without them, but we kept them carried them forward. I can only imagine steady, we slowed them, and we made sure the the confusion: the whistles of the police, the carriers fit properly, made sure their children hollering of men selling taxi and bus tickets, were safe. And from the arms of these parents volunteers offering food, clothing, toys. But I would take their children. Babies that were I had only a few seconds to take in the mass 7 months old, younger, 3 year olds, all infants. of weary people coming toward me before we They were Syrians, Afghans, Iraqi — refugees took off. from hatred and violence that was plaguing We were darting around bags, men, their homes. And for one small minute I children, grandmothers, and other aid workers; was given the responsibility to hold these searching and keeping watch for mothers and incredibly brave and strong little children. For fathers carrying infants. Quickly we would approach, greet in Arabic, and offer the 28 - T&G November 2016

Above, Haney poses in front of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Right, she watches the sunset at Oia, Santorini.

one minute, I rocked and soothed, cradled in my arms, blocked their cheeks from the wind, and kissed their little foreheads. And when I finally handed them back to their mothers and placed them safe and snug into their little carriers, I felt like I was placing them into a little safer and a little securer world.

Again and again we did this, calling out to mamas and babas. I held these precious little pieces of the future before handing them back to their families to face a most uncertain path.

So many were cold. They had no gloves, no hats, they needed socks and extra blankets for their babies — and we didn’t have enough.

There were just so many people. But we did what we could, and we gave what we had.

We received so many tired smiles of relief, whispered Thank yous, grabbing of hands, so many kisses of gratitude. One grandmother pulled me into a tight embrace and peppered my face with kisses, her smile so big, my heart felt like it matched in size. So much gratitude was pouring our way, and for something we did that was so small. I wish I could’ve done more.

I felt guilty for all the gratitude, when I really could do so little. I knew after this I would return to my world of privilege, and they would be entering this world of unforeseeable futures — and I felt the entire weight of the injustice of it all. In the dark, before the sun rose, it made everything seem much more hurried, more hectic, more hopeless. But these women and these families, they were all so thankful, so grateful for this one small gift we could offer.

The world doesn’t know these families.

They say these refugees are unsafe, foreigners, our media goes so far as to call them terrorists.

I saw no terrorists that day. I saw weary men and weary women leading their frightened children by the hand. I saw so many weary faces, but in each of their faces, beneath the confusion and unsureness of this new country, I saw hope. And each child I held, I felt like I was holding a piece of that hope — hope for the future, for better lives, and a hope for a kinder world.

I will be the first to admit, it was difficult being there. I still can’t force the image of one boy out of my mind. We found his mother 2016 November T&G - 29

Haney during a weekend trip to Jerusalem, at the Dome of the Rock.

crouched on the curb surrounded by her two little girls and cradling her infant son in a nest of blankets. We offered her a baby carrier, but she made motions that she was pregnant. Her bus was being called, and she had to move to lead her little ones on their way to Macedonia, and as she tried to stand we realized how exhausted and weak she was. She was sick, and her cough was so alarmingly harsh. I took her child from her arms, and with her I led her two daughters to the buses.

The walk was long, but not as long as it felt.

In my arms I carried a 2-year-old boy, he was asleep, though fitfully, and like his mother he had a terrible cough. My heart broke into a million pieces for his family, for this brave mother who had to remain strong. I felt so much for this little baby boy who was sleeping through his first moments in Greece, but when he awoke, he would find himself in a whole new life. Where they were to go? Who could say. Hopefully, today the borders of Macedonia would be open, but after that? Who knew where their journey across the earth would take them. Who would welcome them? Would it be with open arms? For the sake of this little boy, I could only hope so.

The mother pulled herself up the stairs of the bus and held out her arms to me for her 30 - T&G November 2016

boy, and so I kissed his little cheeks, wiped the tears from my own, and handed him back over to his uncertain path.

As the last refugees boarded their buses that morning, the sun began to rise over the Aegean and Greece. It has been said that there is something about the light here, a powerful beauty that cannot be accurately explained in words. Maybe for the first time since I had arrived on my program in Athens I truly understood that. The sun that morning, the light that it shed, was like no sunrise I had ever experienced. It seemed to promise a better future, better lives, like a beacon of hope for these wanderers. As the port was bathed in sunlight, I could only hope that this light would lead them to safety. These families were being welcomed into Europe by the warmth of the Greek sunrise, and like the light that poured over the horizon, it seemed a promise of better things.

That cold morning at the countless infants.

I cradled them in my arms, I helped their mothers carry them into their new lives. For me, that was a privilege. To be there at this turning point in these families’ lives, to be there to welcome them in this next step, to help ease their burdens just a little on their long journey. So many burdens, they all carried with them so many burdens. Their trash bags full of belongings, their bright orange aid backpacks, their blankets, their children, their past, their stories. For just a minute, I held them in my arms and made the load a little more bearable on these mothers and on these fathers. There were so many people that day, and the whole situation just seemed so desperate. But as I turned my face toward the sun, I just hoped those children were being carried forward into a brighter and safer future. T&G Erin Haney is a senior in the Schreyer Honors College from Blue Bell. She is majoring in classics and Ancient Mediterranean studies. She spent her entire junior year studying abroad — Rome in the fall and Athens in the spring.

She stared at me with the same disappointment that followed me and my roommates wherever we went, and said “American huh?” I explained to her that this was in fact my first week here in Florence, and I still had trouble just saying Hello. She understood, but I knew what she was thinking.

They see kids like us every summer coming into their world, making them speak our language, not even bothering to learn the word “hello.” As I stood there in utter humiliation for aiding to the already terrible American reputation, she simply asked me what I came in for.

“I arrived here a few days ago not realizing that our apartment would not be stocked with some of the necessities that I am used to.”

The author in front of the The owner smirked at me a Leaning Tower of Pisa. little, and responded in perfect English, “So you’re looking for a towel.”

A little taken aback, I nodded my head, knowing that clearly many other students forgot to bring towels with them, as well. As she ruffled through shelves, looking for her cheapest option, she began to vent about American students.

“Sometimes students forget they are traveling to a new place with a completely different culture than their own. They expect everyone to always conform to American ways.”

Although this was a little hurtful, she did

By Shelby McGinty indeed have a point. For the past week I was showering in the smallest space, with the lightest “Look! They have some linens in the window, water pressure I have ever experienced. To top it maybe they have one!” off, I was air-drying because I didn’t think to bring My roommate Sabrina shouted while pointing a towel with me from home. I remember thinking at a small wooden shop across the street. I gazed how can people live like this? warily at the beautiful handmade linens that As she pulled a small white towel from the back lined the walls of the store, before the owner shelf, she explained that this was going to be my welcomed me in. best bet for a towel in the city.

“Buongiorno” she said as she came down the “We don’t have a Wal-Mart here where you stairs. Shocked and a little nervous I hastily can pick up anything you might ever need. replied “bonjour!” to which I immediately bowed Italians want quality products that are made by my head in shame. professionals in that field. That’s the difference between you and me.”

What I learned about America — in Italy

2016 November T&G - 31

McGinty with her roommates in an amphitheater at Pompeii.

With that I left the linen store with a 28-euro towel and a little perspective.

As I strolled home, I thought about what she said. Here I was in Florence, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the world, angrily wondering why it is so hard to find a dang towel. I had spent the last two hours aimlessly wandering the streets looking for any kind of store that might sell towels or similar products. By this time, my roommates had left me to go home, and I was all alone trying to find my way back. Completely lost, as usual, I headed to the one landmark I always knew I could find, the Duomo. As I sat on the steps in pure astonishment, I thought back to just a week ago. On our first day here we decided to walk around the city to get a feel for the lay of the land. We crossed the Ponte Vecchio because we lived on the other side of the river from downtown Florence. As we roamed the streets, we can hear conversations from Italian and tourists alike, all who mention something called the Duomo.

The four of us all began to think maybe this is an important word we should know. As we walked through the narrow streets, we turned the corner to see a huge cathedral right in front of us.

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From her apartment in Florence, McGinty enjoyed some wonderful views.

Unaware of the historic landmark that we live five minutes from, all of our jaws dropped as we admired the beautiful architecture. My roommate Kim looked at all of us and said, “Guys, I think we just found the Duomo.”

But of course we weren’t quite sure, so we decided to ask someone on the street if this was in fact the Duomo. The man chuckled a little, agreeing that this was the historic church and adding, “It’s like your Empire State Building.

Everyone knows what it is, you can’t miss it.”

Of course, over the next six weeks we would we have history of the Duomo shoved down our throats in art class. But now, even looking back on this, it’s amazing to me how something so important to Florence was never even mentioned to me at home. As I sit here, thinking about all the things I got to learn and experience in Florence, it scares me how much of an imperialistic culture we

have become. I walk into a little shop in central Italy expecting to have to point to what I need and to assimilate into the culture quite quickly.

But to be quite honest, I didn’t learn any Italian.

Everything was in English, everything was catered to the modern American tourist, and coming to a new country wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined.

Don’t get me wrong, it made living there a lot easier for me, but I wanted to leave the country to learn with a new understanding of the world and who lives in it. Instead, I left with a different sense of self. I didn’t leave Italy learning as much about them as I did about my culture and myself. So as I left Italy and got on my plane to go home, I looked at the flight attended who scanned my ticket and said, “Goodbye.” T&G Shelby McGinty is a junior from Gaithersburg, Maryland. She is majoring in supply chain and minoring in international business.

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2016 November T&G - 33

Adele Miller, with her parents Sean and Marjorie, enjoys her time at Welch Pool in State College during this past summer.

Continuing

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By Jodi Morelli

34 - T&G November 2016

Thanks to public pools, public parks, and more, Centre Region Parks and Recreation has helped keep Happy Valley residents active and enjoying the great outdoors for 50 years

2016 November T&G - 35

Pools. Parades. Parks and playgrounds. Programs for kids and adults.

Centre Region Parks and Recreation does all of those things and a whole lot more.

For 50 years, Centre Region Parks and Rec — otherwise known as CRPR — has provided a plethora of opportunities and experiences for all ages of Centre County residents. Fitness classes, festivals, nature walks, holiday events — you name it and chances are CRPR has it.

During the past five decades, the agency has grown to be one of the biggest sources of outdoor fun and recreation for all of Centre County. Pam Salokangas, director of CRPR since September 1, is excited to see what’s in store for the next 50 years.

“I came back to my dream job,” says Salokangas, who, most recently, had been the general park manager at the Adventure Park at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

“It’s just very exciting. There’s so much going on.”

CRPR celebrated its 50th anniversary with a 50 Fest August 27 at Tudek Park. Salokangas says the event featured giveaways, an obstacle course, and, of course, was a collaborative event with several different community groups, organizations, and partners.

“The day offered all kinds of activities for folks. It was essentially a community play day.

The celebration was a rousing success. The

Darren Andrew Weimert (2)

whole team pulled together, and everybody had a role. It really was the last hurrah of summer,” she says.

She adds that the event was planned so well that the agency staff would like to make it an annual event.

In her position, Salokangas is focused on regional park planning, and specifically mentions the development of Oak Hall Regional Park. She views park development as creating destinations for Centre County residents. She dreams of creating spaces that people can visit, enjoy, and create memories.

She wants to continue with the goals and objectives that have been at the heart of CRPR for 50 years. During that time, the CRPR staff has remained Millbrook Marsh Nature Center offers various focused on five objectives: to plan, events and activities for implement, and promote a diverse kids, including learning menu of year-round programs, sport how to set up and take leagues, and special events; to promote down a tent. and accommodate self-directed uses of parks and facilities by individuals, families, and groups; to provide efficient parks maintenance and operation services across an extensive range of recreation facilities at a reasonable cost; to strive to improve community parks and advance the approved capital projects at municipal and regional facilities; and to coordinate and administer effective support for all of agency operations.

The things that are going on are almost too many to mention, but

36 - T&G November 2016

Contributed photos (3)

in a nutshell, CRPR currently operates parks and pavilions — facilities that include the senior center, swimming pools, and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center; bus trips; preschool, school-age, adult, and senior programming; and bicycle safety. Add to that a whole host of special events that occur during the year, consisting of community movie events and scavenger hunts; aquadog day; Punt, Pass & Kick Competition; Halloween Costume Parade; Trickor-Treat Night; State College Municipal Band concerts; and a community Easter egg hunt.

Plus, CRPR offers “pop-up” programming, which means a variety of new and fun programs are added to already scheduled events during the year to simply keep things fresh, new, and exciting, Salokangas says.

Beth Lee, recreation supervisor since 2003, oversees the agency-wide special events. She says that events such as the Halloween parade, Easter egg hunt, Touch-a-Truck Expo, and Kids on Wheels Parade are well known and well loved in the community.

“These are such long-standing traditions in our community. We have a whole slew of programs, and we want to carry them forward,” she says.

The events have become community-wide traditions that people look forward to year after year.

“There is an added value when we come across grandparents who have passed down traditions to their grandkids and have enjoyed our activities

The annual Halloween Costume Parade is one of the most popular events CRPR holds.

“There are a lot of great partnerships in the community through programming. Partners and volunteers are at the heart of what we do. We can’t operate without them. Everything from the Halloween parade to the senior center — we rely on community support in all respects. We always need more volunteers.”

— Pam Salokangas 2016 November T&G - 37

when they were young, and now are enjoying those same activities with their own kids and grandkids,” Salokangas says.

Those traditions date back to the beginning of CRPR, an organization that was run under State College Area School District for years, before becoming its own entity in 1966. At that time, Bob Ayer was hired as the first Parks and Recreation director, and the agency was officially established as a regional/municipal operation.

Special events stand out in the minds of both Salokangas and Lee. Each mention the annual Halloween Costume Parade as a favorite family and community event. Lee recalls a year when the parade needed to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and she says that it just felt like something special was missing that year.

“The Halloween parade stands out as one of our best-loved traditions,” she says. “People just get so creative with it. It’s a great family event.

I remember a family came as a place setting — Dad was the knife, Mom was the plate, the kids were the spoons and fork.”

However, with all of its rich tradition and a celebration of 50 years as an agency, CRPR actually

dates back to 1928, when there was a resolution passed to create the first State College Borough Recreation Board, at which time five board members were appointed to serve in this capacity.

The collaboration with State College school board began in 1946, when a partnership formed to provide year-round activities for people of all ages. The programming that emerged was at the forefront of both the school district’s Community Education Program and CRPR and started with two part-time directors, Charles Stoddard and Curt Gaylord.

Fast-forward to 1966 when Ayer was appointed director and the agency continued to grow and evolve by leaps and bounds. According to Salokangas and Lee, CRPR became a stand-alone agency because it was simply bursting at the seams.

Once it became its own operation, it kept on growing and becoming more and more integrated into the community.

In 1968, the participating municipalities finalized the annual funding shares and process for the regional operation of parks and recreation services, and in 1969, the William L. Welch Pool was placed under the CRPR umbrella. In 1970, CRPR opened

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the second public pool in State College — the Park Forest Community Pool.

For the next couple of decades, those facilities became part of the CRPR institution and more and more programs were added to the mix.

In 1994, the Tom Tudek Memorial Park in Ferguson Township was dedicated and opened to the general public. It also was during that year that Ronald J. Woodhead was appointed as the new director of CRPR. He held that position until his recent retirement, when Salokangas was named as his replacement.

In 1997, the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG), in cooperation with Centre Regional Recreation Authority and ClearWater Conservancy, leased the 62-acre “Farm 12” from Penn State for the development of Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Planning for improvements, as well as initial public programs, started that year.

CRPR enjoyed a big year in 2011. The renewed William L. Welch Swimming Pool reopened, and programs were developed that promoted the mental wellness of older adults at the Centre Region Senior Center. It also was that year that the Spring Creek Education Building at Millbrook

Kids take part in the Easter egg hunt each spring

2016 November T&G - 39

The CRPR staff oversees operations at 55 sites in the Centre Region.

Marsh Nature Center opened.

Four years later, in 2015, Oak Hall Regional Park opened and the Centre Region Senior Center relocated to a space in the Nittany Mall.

Salokangas loves to think about where CRPR is at in 2016 and where it is headed. In order to get a snapshot of CRPR today, consider this: the agency is currently operating 920 acres at 55 sites. Included in those sites are parks in State College Borough, College Township, Harris Township, Ferguson Township, and Patton Township; COG/CRPR authority regional facilities; two public swimming pools, William L. Welch Pool and Park Forest Community Pool; and the Centre Region Senior Center (soon to be the Active Adult Center).

Also included in those sites are Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, Oak Hall Regional Park, and John Hess Softball Field Complex, along with ball fields at Houserville Elementary, Ferguson Elementary, and Radio Park Elementary.

In addition to the numerous CRPR sites, programs, and events, there have been accolades, as well. One notable honor came in 2003 in being named “Sportstown USA.” Centre Region was selected by Sports Illustrated and the National Recreation and Park Association as the 50th Anniversary Sportstown for Pennsylvania.

The title was based on a variety of criteria that demonstrated community involvement in facilitating and enhancing quality sports. The categories that were evaluated in achieving 40 - T&G November 2016

this honor included philosophy, policy and procedures, education and training strategies, youthdevelopment strategies, community commitment to parks and recreation resources, innovations for community development, and scope of programming.

The award, which was presented at halftime of the Penn State-Temple football game in 2003, is prominently displayed in the CRPR offices and is a reminder of the community commitment to providing Centre Region residents with quality recreational opportunities.

Salokangas credits the investment of the entire community in making way for CRPR facilities, events, and programming.

“There are a lot of great partnerships in the community through programming,” she says.

“Partners and volunteers are at the heart of what we do. We can’t operate without them.

Everything from the Halloween parade to the senior center — we rely on community support in all respects. We always need more volunteers. We do all kinds of things, including Spring Spruce-Up Day and Day of Caring in the parks. Some places like Millbrook Marsh are looking to develop more formal volunteer programs.”

As Salokangas looks to the future, she looks forward to developing the organization even more, perhaps with more outdoor programming at nature centers and nontraditional sites.

But she also looks forward to maintaining the traditions that have made CRPR a county institution for the past 50 years.

“I look forward to continuing the legacy,” she says. “There are so many amazing things that we’ve done over the years. For example, the senior center moved to the Nittany Mall, which has been a great transition. We so much appreciate all the support we get from the community in helping to make these types of things happen over the years. But we’re definitely excited to move forward.” T&G Jodi Morelli is a freelance writer who lives in Pleasant Gap.

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Money Matters Seven Times in Your Life to See a Financial Planner

By Christopher Leitzell 1. When you get your first job.

It doesn’t matter whether it pays $20,000 a year or $200,000 a year, your first job is a good reason to check in with a financial planner. Not only can they advise on how best to begin saving for retirement, they also may provide insight on how to maximize your employer’s benefits package.

2. When you get married or divorced.

Another good time to get input from a financial planner is whenever you enter or leave a marriage. Bringing in an unbiased third party can help minimize financial losses in a divorce and may make it easier for engaged couples to have conversations about combining assets and income in marriage.

3. When you receive a large sum of cash.

Receiving a large sum of money, such as from an inheritance, bonus, buyout, or big raise, should be a boon to your financial health. Unfortunately, many people squander the opportunity it presents.

A 2012 study from Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research found most people save only half the inheritance money they receive. In the study, 826 people received an inheritance, with the median amount being $11,340. Of those, one-third saw their overall wealth remain the same or even decline after receiving an inheritance, apparently as a result of poor financial decisions.

4. When you need to take care of aging parents.

According to Genworth Financial, the average annual cost of a home health aide is $45,760. If you think your parents or another elderly loved one will need care, either in-home or in a nursing home, talking to a financial planner sooner rather than later can help you prepare for this sizeable expense.

46 - T&G November 2016

5. When you are thinking about retirement.

Retirement planning is one area where financial planners shine. However, to make the most of their advice, you need to consult with a planner well before your expected quit date.

That doesn’t mean, however, you can’t begin consulting with a financial planner even earlier. Around age 40 you should check in with a planner just to see where you stand and what you are not thinking about.

By taking stock of your situation 20 to 30 years in advance of retirement, you still have plenty of time to make adjustments and save more if needed.

6. When you are preparing to pass on your wealth.

At some point, you and your money will be parted forever. When you start to think about estate planning, it can be smart to bring in a professional for the discussion. A financial advisor may be able to suggest ways to minimize estate taxes, plan for final expenses, and review beneficiary details on accounts.

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•The Advisor did not pay a fee to be considered for the award.

•The award is not indicative of the Advisor’s future performance. Working with the “Advisor of the Year” is not a guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee the selected Advisor will be awarded this accomplishment by J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. in the future.

•The inclusion of the Advisor in the nomination for the award should not be construed as an endorsement of the Advisor’s investment management skills by J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. or any of its affiliates.

•The Advisor may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may or may not manage their client’s assets.

•The award selection committee is not acting in the capacity of an Investment Adviser and therefore the reference to this award should not be considered financial advice.

•J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. has approximately 374 Advisors eligible for consideration of the award and only one Advisor per year is selected.

•For more information on the methodology behind the selection committee’s nominations, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer at J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. at (813) 935-6776.

Money Matters 7. When you are worth a quarter million.

In most of the above cases, you may only want to pay for a single visit with a financial advisor, or ongoing consultation may not be necessary.

However, once your income and assets reach a certain point, you may want to develop a regular working relationship with a planner who can keep you in check. According to some financial experts, a quarter million in assets is a good time to step away from your investments and let an objective third party step in.

Beyond helping you make rational money decisions, a professional advisor can help decipher increasingly complex tax laws and investment strategies that apply to highincome earners. T&G Christopher D. Leitzell, a registered representative and partner, joined Diversified Asset Planners in 1994. He works closely with clients to develop customized financial strategies that incorporate asset allocation, financial management, retirement planning, and life insurance.

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2016 November T&G - 49

Money Matters Manage Your Finances as You Near Retirement

By Wells Fargo Advisors As your target retirement date gets closer, what was once an abstract concept may now feel more like a reality. This life event can provoke different feelings for different people.

While some might feel excited about the possibilities the nonworking years might bring, others may be anxious and fearful.

Regardless of your emotions, now is the time to stay focused on maximizing your retirement savings while also looking ahead to develop a retirement income plan that supports your vision of retirement. The following are some tips you may find helpful.

“Catch up” If you are age 50 or older, one way to help maximize your retirement savings is to take advantage of “catch up” contributions. The “catch up” contribution provision allows you to make additional contributions to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.

If you’re unable to do this, try to contribute at least as much as the employer’s match — otherwise, you’re leaving money on the table.

Open an IRA If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan or you’re self-employed, consider opening an IRA. Even if you already participate in a 401(k) or other plan at work, an IRA can help supplement those savings and help you gain access to a potentially wider range of investment options. Keep in mind, you are still eligible to contribute to an IRA whether you contribute to an employer-sponsored plan or not. You also can make catch up contributions to an IRA if you are age 50 or older.

Convert to a Roth IRA? An often overlooked retirement planning strategy is the Roth IRA conversion. A Roth IRA conversion occurs when you take savings in a Traditional, SEP, or Simple IRA, or employer-sponsored retirement plan, and move the assets into a Roth IRA. You will owe federal and possibly state income tax on the before-tax amounts in your employer plan or IRA converted to a Roth 50 - T&G November 2016

in that tax year, but not the 10 percent IRS early distribution penalty. Once you settle that bill, though, you’ll be able to withdraw all the money in your Roth IRA during retirement without owing any tax or penalty, provided: (1) the Roth IRA has been open for at least five years and you are age 59 ½ or older; or (2) the distribution is a result of your death, disability, or using the first-time homebuyer exception.

The benefits of tax-free distributions in retirement may justify the conversion costs and allow for flexibility to manage taxable income in retirement. Converting to a Roth IRA is not appropriate for everyone. Some factors to consider include your tax bracket now and expected tax bracket in retirement, availability of funds to pay taxes due on the conversion, and your time horizon. Talk to your financial advisor and tax advisor to discuss your specific situation before you convert.

Develop a retirement income plan Now also may be a good time to develop a retirement income plan. A retirement income plan helps make the transition from accumulating assets in your portfolio to determining how you will use all of your various sources of income to cover your living expenses when you’re no longer working.

It’s critical to start the retirement income planning process before you retire. If your planning process determines there’s a gap between your desired expense projections and your required income, you still have time to make some adjustments. These can include retiring at a later date, working part-time in retirement, increasing your current savings, or reducing expense projections. You may want to begin the process with the following: • Analyze your essential and discretionary expenses and create a realistic budget. This process will help you identify all of your sources of income, including Social Security, retirement savings, pensions, investments, etc.

A financial advisor can help you determine when and how to take withdrawals and build an investment strategy that generates income in retirement while still giving your investments the opportunity to grow.

• Consider Social Security. For married couples or divorced individuals, there are numerous options regarding when and how you elect to take your Social Security. Your choices can have a significant impact on the total benefits you receive over time. Your financial advisor can help you analyze the Social Security benefit options available to you and help you evaluate which one best fits your personal circumstances.

• Think about longevity. Americans are living longer and more active lives, which can translate into two or three decades of living in retirement. This affects not only how much you will need to save but also how much you’ll need to budget for health-care expenses. You are eligible for Medicare when you turn age 65. If you retire before age 65 and don’t have health care through your former employer, you will have to purchase your own coverage. And, while Medicare will help cover hospitalization costs and doctor visits, you’ll probably want to secure supplemental coverage. Additionally, you should consider long-term care insurance – the younger you are when you purchase longterm care insurance, the less expensive it is.

Nearing retirement can bring excitement — and also anxiety. But some careful planning now can help ease any anxieties you might experience down the road. You might want to enlist the help of a financial advisor to review your investments, help you develop a retirement income plan, navigate the complexities of evaluating your Social Security benefit options, and plan for healthcare expenses. Now is the time to evaluate where you stand financially and determine what steps you need to take to help ensure you’re able to live out your unique vision for retirement. T&G Wells Fargo Advisors is not a legal or tax advisor.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: • Not FDIC-Insured • Not Bank-Guaranteed • May Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2016 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.

1-844-329-4388 1-814-325-2111

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Money Matters Uncertainty in Estate Planning for Family-Owned Businesses

By Laurence Mroz, CPA, CFP®, Relationship Strategist, PNC Wealth Management Many family business owners might be surprised to hear about the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed regulations to restrict valuation discounts for minority interests in family-controlled entities for federal gift, estate, and generation skipping transfer tax purposes. This proposal —and the discussion that has ensued — has left some business owners uncertain about estate planning.

Why are minority discounts relevant?

If you own 100 percent of a business with a fair market value (FMV) of $1 million, you may be able to sell your interest for that amount. If you own a minority interest (less than 50 percent) in a business with the same total value, you may not be able to get a comparable percentage of the total value if you attempt to sell it. A potential buyer would probably demand a minorityinterest discount to compensate for the lack of marketability and their inability to control operations or dispose of the business for a minority position. Minority-interest discounts may reduce the valuation of a minority interest by as much as 20 to 40 percent.

Gifts of minority interests to heirs during an owner’s lifetime can reduce the potential tax burden at the owner’s death. Unlike estate taxes, which are based on the total value of the property held at death, gift tax is based on the FMV of the property transferred — the amount a stranger would pay for it — and you can obtain minority-interest discounts by making each gift of an interest in the business small enough to qualify for the discount. This difference in the estate and gift tax systems makes it advantageous to transfer interests in your closely held business during life instead of at death.

But as of September, two bills introduced in the House of Representatives would quash the proposed IRS regulations, with one representative saying the proposed 52 - T&G November 2016

regulations “would significantly increase the burden of the death tax.” And more recently, several senators have raised objections and concerns.

Should the IRS proposal not be withdrawn ahead of the public hearing scheduled for December 1, the regulations could be finalized after that time in any form. In the meantime, it may be prudent for business owners with sizable and potentially taxable estates to investigate what this potentially means for their familyowned entities that hold business, real estate, or other interests. What action, if any, should you and your family take now, before the regulations are adopted?

Probably the best place to start is with a conversation with your team of legal, financial, and tax advisors to review the potential impact of the proposed regulations on individual wealth-transfer plans.

Together, you should discuss any transfer of interests in closely held family entities before the regulations are finalized. You might want to explore other wealth transferoptions, too, such as grantor retained trusts, charitable lead trusts, or other strategies.

Of course, it’s also possible that the proposed regulations will not be finalized, will be finalized in a different manner or in a narrower form, or may be invalidated by subsequent legal

Money Matters challenges. No matter the outcome, the bottom line is families considering actions to transfer family-equity interest should explore the complexity, cost, financial, and related impact on all parties involved of doing so. T&G PNC Wealth Management® does not render legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein. We recommend that you consult with your legal and tax advisors regarding this communication.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the marketing name PNC Wealth Management® to provide investment and wealth management, fiduciary services, FDIC-insured banking products and services, and lending of funds through its subsidiary, PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), which is a Member FDIC, and to provide specific fiduciary and agency services through its subsidiary, PNC Delaware Trust

Company or PNC Ohio Trust Company. PNC does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice unless, with respect to tax advice, PNC Bank has entered into a written tax services agreement. PNC does not provide services in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorized to conduct business. PNC Bank is not registered as a municipal advisor under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act”). Investment management and related products and services provided to a “municipal entity” or “obligated person” regarding “proceeds of municipal securities” (as such terms are defined in the Act) will be provided by PNC Capital Advisors, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC Bank and SEC registered investment adviser.

“PNC Wealth Management” is a registered service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Investments: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value. ©2016 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.and life insurance.

Whether in print or online, you can find out what’s happening in Happy Valley with Town&Gown. Follow Town&Gown on townandgown.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@TownGownSC)

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INVESTMENT • ADVISORS, L.L.C.

1375 Martin Street, Suite 200, State College, PA 16803 Ph: (814) 867-2050 FAX: (814) 867-2063

A Team You Can Count On!

Through objective investment advice, exhaustive due diligence and research, and professional portfolio management, Vantage provides a comprehensive approach to asset management for high net worth individuals, trusts, IRAs and qualified pension plans. Vantage utilizes individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and institutional money managers to create a personalized asset allocation and investment portfolio for each client, taking into consideration their specific investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

VANTAGE:

offers a comprehensive approach to investment management. emphasizes versatility and customization in the structure of client portfolios. has access to 9,000 mutual funds and 350 institutional money managers. allows clients continuous access to information on their accounts through its website, www.vantageadvisors.com.

CONTACT: Robert R. Thomas, CFA, CFPÂŽ (rob.thomas@vantageadvisors.com) or Jill W. Sutt (jill.sutt@vantageadvisors.com)

2016 November T&G - 55

Money Matters Considerations for Retirement Planning

By Tom King CFP®, CLU®, AEP® 1. Plan first. Invest second.

Sadly, picking investments is where many financial advisors start. What you really need is advice tailored to your specific situation. Whether you’re just thinking about retirement or already retired, you need a plan.

Remember, the one universal truth of retirement planning is the earlier you start, the better off you’ll be.

2. Look beyond your employer’s retirement accounts.

You and your spouse may have a substantial nest egg in employer retirement accounts.

You also may have pensions, tax-deferred plans, investment accounts, and Social Security benefits. As you build a retirement plan, it should factor in all your accounts.

Considering your entire financial picture will result in a far more accurate plan.

3. Choose your investments wisely.

Most retirement accounts provide investment options, and making the right choices now can have a big impact on the rest of your life. First and foremost, consider an advisor who puts your needs first — look for one who is a Certified Financial Planner™. Second, consider an advisor who is independent of your employer’s retirement plan. What you’re after is advice that’s professional and holistic, with no strings attached.

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4. Consider Social Security and taxes.

Decisions about Social Security benefits are critical and irreversible. How your investments are taxed is equally important.

Simply choosing when to claim benefits and which investments go in taxable and nontaxable accounts is step one. Then, being mindful of where and when you draw income during retirement — from taxable accounts, nontaxable accounts, or Social Security — can impact overall returns. Professional advice is so important here.

5. Monitor your portfolio over time.

You can’t just allocate your retirement funds and call it a day. As you progress through retirement, your needs fundamentally change. It’s important to pay careful attention to investment selections, asset allocation, when you need access to funds, and which funds to use. T&G

2016 November T&G - 57

Pick up a FREE copy of this year’s Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania Homeowners’ Guide to Builders, Remodelers, & Services!

HOMEOWNERS’

GUIDE TO B U I L D E R S , R E M O D E L E R S , & S E RV I C E S

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This year’s edition includes: “Your Home Maintenance To-Do List” “Top Five Tips for Hiring a Remodeler”

Where to go for your home needs

• A-to-Z list of Association members • Tips for hiring a remodeler • Your home maintence to-do list

"Home Financing 101 of First-Time Home Buyers” And, of course, includes a directory of the members of the Builders Association.

Whatever home needs you have, you can find the right person to help you in the Homeowners’ Guide to Builders, Remodelers, & Services!

War Stories HHHHH

With the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor — and the United States’ involvement in World War II — approaching, the heroism and bravery from those who served are remembered

By Mike Dawson

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By Mike Dawson

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J

John Homan says when he meets a P-51 fighter pilot, he says Thanks by buying him a drink. It’s a symbolic gesture to the veteran for the gratitude he owed two pilots, unknown to him, who helped saved his life in 1944 during World War II. Homan’s B-24 had just completed a mission to bomb an oil refinery outside Berlin when an engine issue prevented the plane from keeping up with the rest of the squadron.

Alone in enemy territory, he radioed for help, and that’s when the two P-51s responded and escorted his crew back to safety.

“As we crossed the English coast, they peeled off and said, ‘So long’ with a wind wag,” says Homan, who’s now 92. “I would have liked to have found them to buy them the best drink in the house, but as a substitute, whenever I met a P-51 pilot, I did just that.”

Like the millions of Americans in the 1940s, Homan put his life on hold to fight for his country. He and his fellow soldiers saw the horrors of death and destruction, they formed lifelong bonds with one another, and they found out just how much people across Europe appreciated them putting their lives on the line for their freedom. Still, with this December 7 marking the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that thrust the US into World War II, the stories and legacies of the “greatest generation” live on, even as many who fought in the war continue to pass.

Ermol says her dad remembers some of what preceded the crash: He tried to put his parachute on, but the plane’s wing broke off, causing the plane to go into a tailspin. He looked at the cockpit’s control panel, saw he was at 16,000 feet, but then lost consciousness.

When he awoke, he was in the company of people from the local town, wherever that was — he had no idea. He struggled to get out of the plane, going in and out of consciousness. The locals helped him get free, hid him in a barn, and cared for him. He remembered a woman feeding him something with a teaspoon, Ermol says.

The Germans must have seen the plane go down, though. Within hours, their soldiers arrived, looking for any survivors. The Germans took Burman away for treatment, and he eventually ended up in the Stalag Luft III prisoner-of-war camp in what is now Poland. He spent the next two years there and eventually got away during the Great Escape.

Back in the United States, he moved to State

HHH Barb Ermol’s father, Henry M. Burman, was born November 7, 1918, but her family didn’t celebrate that birthday, Ermol says. Instead, they celebrated his second birthday — February 16, 1943.

That’s the day Burman miraculously survived a crash landing from 16,000 feet in the air after his B-17 was shot while on a mission to bomb SaintNazaire in northwestern France. One of his crewman bailed out midair, but Burman, with cuts, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and a smashed face, was the only one who survived the crash.

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John Homan

Lou Berrena

A sketch of Burman that was drawn while he was at a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland.

College where he was a real estate agent. Decades later, he still never knew where his plane went down and where the people who had rescued him were.

“It bugged him that he didn’t know where he was shot down,” Ermol says. “I think he was always trying to find out. He was always thinking, ‘Why me? Why did I live and my friends die?’ ” Across the Atlantic, though, the people in that town in northwestern France did not forgot about the American who fell from the sky. His legend carried on — the date of the crash etched into the community’s memory.

In 1992, Burman received word that some folks in France were just as curious as he was to put the pieces of the puzzle together. A veteran friend of his had been in touch with a group of French World War II aviation enthusiasts that were looking to find more information about an American pilot who crashed on February 16, 1943, outside Molac, a small town in the Brittany region, north of Saint-Nazaire.

It sounded like Burman’s story.

The pieces came together. Burman got in touch with the group in France, who invited him there to show their thanks. He made the trip in 1994 with his wife, Stella, and Ermol. The whole town turned out in what

was a hero’s welcome — there was a parade, a banquet, memorials, and more.

“It was just amazing,” Ermol says. “It was just an amazing feeling he had, how they appreciated him.”

Burman visited the exact spot where his plane crashed down. He revisited the barn where the the people of Molac hid him for a few hours before the Germans found him. He stood in the same spot with the woman, now into her 70s, who fed him.

“She looked up at him and said, ‘You’re just as handsome as the last time I saw you,’ ” Ermol says.

The town put up a memorial to Burman, as well as his crew members who didn’t survive. He was in awe.

“That gave him a sense of they didn’t die in vain,” Ermol says, referring to the crew that didn’t survive the crash. “He could never see the appreciation before. It really, I think, helped my dad in the last couple years of his life.”

Burman died in 2000.

HHH Lou Berrena’s first day in June 1944 was baptism by fire. A paratrooper, 21-year-old Berrena had been making his way north from Naples, Italy, to Civitavecchia, outside Rome, 2016 November T&G - 63

with the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team when his unit encountered a sniper.

“He spotted the guy beside me,” says Berrena, now 93. “He got him in the back.

The guy on my left got hit, too. I thought I was going to get hit.”

He never did. He heard the bullet whizz by him, but he says he avoided danger by moving around, not staying in one place.

“We had eight machine guns firing at all the trees to get the sniper, and another fellow with a burp gun,” Berrena says. “They finally got him.”

In all, the 517th suffered between 40 and 50 casualties on that first day, according to a history of the unit.

Berrena also talks of his closest brush with death from a German eighty-eight, an antiaircraft and antitank artillery gun, during the Battle of the Bulge. He and a soldier from his regiment were walking in-between tracks in the snow from a German panzer when an eighty-eight fired. He and the other soldier

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dove down while shrapnel and stones flew up.

Both men expected the other to be hit, but they both were OK. Berrena spent 54 days on the line in the Battle of the Bulge, Germany’s last major offensive campaign in the war, in the dense forests of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg from December 1944 to January 1945. The conditions were harsh — he remembers only one shower and one hot meal.

Back in the US after the war, he went on to be the food-service director at Penn State’s Hetzel Union Building (HUB) until he retired.

He then worked as the food-service director at Bucknell University in Lewisburg and tended bar at the Tavern Restaurant in State College.

HHH After John Buzzell, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, received his draft letter in January 1943, he appealed, to no avail, to finish the semester.

“Why were they in a hurry to draft me?” says Buzzell, 94, and a resident of Foxdale Village

in State College. “All of the sudden they needed me. I had no idea why.”

That was until he learned his assignment: a cryptanalyst for the Army, tasked with breaking German codes, and he would have some involvement in the invasion of Europe.

Buzzell had been studying for a master’s degree in chemistry, but also was taking German courses. The best work in chemistry was being done at that time in Germany, so it made sense for him to learn that language.

He went through some stateside training, but to learn about codes and ciphers, he had to go to England, where he’d be taught by the British on their home turf. He left for England January 31, 1944, arrived in Liverpool 13 days later, and was assigned to the 3250th Signal Service Co. The unit was a radio-intelligence company assigned to identify and track German units ahead of them. Once in the field, they were to be close to the front but not close enough to be caught by the enemy.

Buzzell’s hunch that he was to be a part of the invasion of Europe was right. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was aboard a ship seven miles off the coast of Normandy as the Allied forces invaded.

He remembers flashes from the guns of the Navy warships shelling the Germans’ positions on the beach. Two days later, he disembarked and joined his company in a temporary camp.

“We were a secret organization,” he says. “In a sense, our first six months in Europe we camped outside, we were not put in a village or homes.

We were kept separated from our troops because the less anyone knew about us, the better.”

His mission in mainland Europe was interrupted by a medical emergency that required evacuation

to England, but he reconnected with the 3250th as the campaign progressed toward Germany.

On the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944, the Germans attacked through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. Buzzell’s unit, located south of the offensive, wasn’t in the path of the German advance. But Buzzell remembers worries of English-speaking German paratroopers, in American uniforms, being dropped behind the lines to confuse the Americans.

“It got quite nervous and jumpy in our area, especially at night when you were on guard duty,” he says. “You made sure that you knew the correct password and response when challenged because everyone was trigger-happy.”

Buzzell’s unit spent the winter in Limbourg, Belgium. By mid-February, the unit entered Germany, and by the start of spring 1945, it was deep inside Germany’s Rhine Valley. The Allies’ success had the Germans retreating quickly, so much so that the 3250th’s code breaking wasn’t needed because the Germans’ messages were clear.

As the war in Europe approached its end, Buzzell’s unit moved from city to city in Germany. On Victory in Europe Day, the unit, now part of Patton’s 3rd Army, went to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, and waited for the Russians, who were to occupy the country as part of the terms of Germany’s surrender.

Buzzell remained in Czechoslovakia until June 25, 1945, when his unit started a fivemonth process to get home. He arrived in the US in Boston on Thanksgiving Day. He re-enrolled in graduate school at Wisconsin, later completed his doctorate at the University of Iowa, and worked for 30 years with Dupont as a research chemist in New Jersey and Towanda.

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HHH The trouble after the oil-refinery bombing in 1944 was just one of the 34 missions Homan flew for the Eighth Air Force out of England. He saw plane damage on 14 of them.

In September 1944, he was on a mission to drop supplies for the troops that had broken out of Normandy and were advancing east, but it didn’t go according to plan. It became progressively worse.

The weather conditions were poor from the start, his B-24s dodged C-46s towing gliders, and after crossing into the Netherlands, something ripped a hole in the No. 3 engine. It took three passes to finally drop the supplies on target, but at some point, the plane must have crossed into Germany.

“Each time we went out over Germany, I saw a farmer shooting at us,” says Homan, who lives at Foxdale Village.

It got worse: The plane was hit by ground fire, knocking out the No. 4 engine, which cut out immediately. The hydraulic system went, too, which caused the cockpit to fill with fluid that he and his crew thought was smoke and assumed the plane was on fire.

Homan says the crew finally gained control of the plane when it was at tree level, but they weren’t out of the clear yet. On the approach to the runway, they saw a burning B-24 on their right. Without hydraulics, they had no brakes, and when they landed, they found out the left tires were shot out. To the right was the burning B-24, so they let the plane veer left and crash into some piping. Homan and the crew dashed away from their plane as soon as they could.

Homan came back to the US for a short leave before Christmas in 1944. He went to train on B-25 bombers and instrument training on the AT-6. He thought he was headed to the Pacific after being transferred 66 - T&G November 2016

John Buzzell

to Missouri to learn C-46s, the largest twinengine transport aircraft, but that was moot after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Homan was 21 when he was discharged in December 1945. He went on to college at Rutgers and worked with manufacturer A.E. Staley before retiring in 1985.

The crew of the 489th Bomb Group had reunited over the years, Homan says. When there were just two left, they decided that the last one remaining would drink a champagne toast in their honor.

Homan says, “I did that in the summer of 2013.” T&G Mike Dawson is a freelance writer who lives in State College.

For more stories about veterans, be sure to check out this month’s special insert, Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans. It includes profiles on Centre County veterans and features on Adam Hartswick and Michael Murphy.

Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans

Inside: Adam Hartswick’s “True Grit” Michael Murphy’s father remembers his son Profiles of Centre County veterans

Thanks to the publication, Town&Gown is donating $5,000 to help kick off the fundraising drive to bring the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Centre County next October.

Get to know...

Brian Bittner: Always Ready Hurricane, bomb threat, plane crash — although Brian Bittner always hopes such emergencies don’t happen, he and his staff are well prepared if they do. As Penn State’s director of emergency management since 2011, Bittner is in charge of emergency planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts at all university campuses.

“We think about how we can keep everyone safe, and how we can keep the doors of Penn State open in the case of an emergency,” he says.

After earning a bachelor’s in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Bittner attended the IUP Municipal Police Academy and in 1997 became a Penn State patrol officer. That police service, plus volunteering with Alpha Fire Company since 1998, sparked his interest in emergency management. In 2009, he became a Penn State police emergency planner and earned a master’s degree in homeland security from the World Campus.

Hurricane Sandy in 2012 has been one of the biggest threats that Bittner’s office has dealt with recently. Although Sandy didn’t reach University Park, as originally projected, Bittner still worked all night at the university’s Beaver Stadium emergency center to help coordinate class cancellations and keep track of damages at eastern campuses. “We try to think ahead and take care of any unmet needs.”

The Penn State Bookstore thanks Brian Bittner and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.

www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205 2016 November T&G - 67

Darren Andrew Weimert

State Theatre executive director Greg Ray has used data to help select what artists and attractions to bring to the State Theatre, and it has helped the venue become a hit.

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s s e c c u S s ’ e t a t S e h t of its celebrate to s e r a rep as Theatre p its reopening, it h it ’s te ta S e re ce A s th rsary sin ng theater to whe e iv n n a 10th ggli r om a stru orming arts cente r f d e d n rebou rant perf now a vib

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By Susa

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Meadow Lane Photography

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Zeropoint Big Band will headline the State Theatre’s 10th anniversary gala event December 3.

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Dick Knupp (3)

I

n a town that has seen its share of businesses come and go, State College has always loved the anchors that hold downtown together. The Corner Room. Schlow Centre Region Library.

The Tavern Restaurant. And, more recently, the State Theatre.

In December, the State Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary since it reopened to become the community performing arts center in downtown State College. It is celebrating 10 years of providing a rich variety of cultural experiences for audiences of all ages. With more than 200 events each year, the State Theatre has become an economic driver for downtown State College.

“Having a performing arts center like the State Theatre in the heart of the community is important to the very life of the downtown,” says George Arnold, executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District.

“It brings the community into downtown State College and keeps it active and interesting.”

Keeping things interesting has always been the goal of the State Theatre, but the journey has not been without its challenges. With a groundswell of community support and a donated building, the State Theatre had

George Thorogood was a top attraction this year at the State Theatre.

many things going for it when it reopened in 2006. Still, the newly remodeled, reimagined community performing arts center struggled in its early years, leading some to think that it might not last.

“Not too long ago there were rumors that the State Theatre might close,” says board member Nadine Kofman, who has been involved with the theater since a group of community members first hatched the plan to turn the

defunct movie theater into a performing arts center. “Now, it looks as good on paper as it does on stage. In only 10 years, the State Theatre has gone from being a good idea to becoming a downtown fixture.”

Indeed, says Greg Ray, who became executive director of the theater in 2014, the State has recently struck a balance that provides the right programming for the community and its visitors. And, after years of being in the red, this careful balance finally allows the theater to do better financially.

The formula for a successful communitybased performing arts center, says Ray, includes a combination of dynamic performers, an engaged audience, and, perhaps surprisingly, the scientific method. It’s all about the data, he says, explaining that he and his team choose acts and events based on years of accumulated data that show what the local audiences prefer.

“Early on, people at the State were asking, ‘What will people go to? What do people want to see? What do people want to hear?’ Today, we find ourselves with a whole history of those questions being answered,” he says. “So we are the beneficiaries of 10 years of asking those questions and getting those answers.”

Knowing what to do with that data is part of what has made the State Theatre a success.

“As any researcher would tell you, this type of treasure trove of data is just awesome,” continues Ray. “It allows us to pinpoint much better how to serve our community. Early on, we saw this as a community service, but we needed a tremendous amount of feedback to figure out how to best serve the community.”

And serve the community it has. Last year, the State Theatre sold almost 35,000 tickets for live music, theater, movies, dance, and more.

Cautiously optimistic, Ray and his team see the theater as a work in progress, one where constant vigilance is important.

“The most important part is being able to listen to the community,” he explains.

And what has the community told Ray? It’s a community of independent movie lovers — but not enough to sustain a week’s worth of screening the same movie. It’s a community that loves big names such as George Thorogood and Blue Oyster Cult, but also craves a performing arts center where it can see local ballet students

Local acts such as Miss Melanie and the Valley Rats have performed at the State Theatre.

perform The Nutcracker. It’s a community that wants the high culture of opera but also loves to laugh at classic Looney Tunes shorts.

And so, the State Theatre offers a little bit of something for everyone, becoming a true community performing arts center. But if there’s one thing that makes Ray the most proud, it’s not the crowds or the profits; it’s the State Theatre’s role as a community resource, providing a stage on which locals can share their talents with one another.

“The usage of the theater by the community was always one of the prime goals of the State Theatre,” says Roy Love, a past board president who remains active with the theater. “Our local theater groups use the theater. Every one of the 2016 November T&G - 71

dance companies uses the theater. And we’ve really made sure that that’s the case. We’ve made it work however it will work.”

Making it work has sometimes meant getting a little help from philanthropic community members. During the 2016-17 season, seven local performance groups are getting their chance to shine on the State Theatre stage thanks to the James and Barbara Palmer Performance Grant. The Palmer Grant provides the funds for local artists to rent the performance space at the theater — either the main stage or the smaller attic venue — and share their artistic talents with the community.

“It allows the State Theatre to be more diverse,” explains Love. “It enables the State to showcase groups that could not otherwise afford to rent the space, and it allows community artists to use this wonderful facility.”

And whether it’s the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus or theater company Tempest Productions, local performers in search of a technically superior venue have found a performance space that will delight both the

“What excites me is that we have built a bridge from working purely with performing arts nonprofits to a wider nonprofit community.”

Greg Ray Singer-songwriter Jason McIntyre performs during a benefit concert at the State Theatre.

72 - T&G November 2016

performers and their audiences.

“It’s like they’re performing in your living room,” says Love of the intimate 571-seat theater, adding that the State Theatre’s highly skilled staff enhances the shows with its technical skills. “There’s something really magical about that.”

And the magic does not end with the performing arts. Several times a year, fund-raisers at the State Theatre help fund transformative work in the community.

“What excites me,” says Ray, “is that we have built a bridge from working purely with performing arts nonprofits to a wider nonprofit community.”

Two shows this past summer — Ani DiFranco and Mary Chapin Carpenter — raised funds for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. A portion of the ticket sales for the Robert Cray show on November 15 will go to the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg. Partnering with nonprofits, says Ray, not only helps raise money for local charities but also helps raise awareness of their work in the community.

Drew Frank

The State College Community Theatre has used the State Theatre for several productions, including Disney’s High School Musical.

Most notable is the State Theatre’s annual rock tribute show, featuring local performers covering the works of popular artists such as Van Morrison or Neil Young. Each year, this sell-out show donates several thousands of dollars of concert proceeds to a local charity, first

Easter Seals and more recently Strawberry Fields Inc. The 2017 show, on January 28, will showcase local artists covering songs by the Rolling Stones.

“It’s an opportunity for us as a social service nonprofit to work with another nonprofit in a nontraditional way,” says Cindy Pasquinelli, CEO of Strawberry Fields Inc. “Strawberry Fields provides services for babies, birth to age 3, and we provide mental-health and intellectual-disability services, and that doesn’t usually go hand in hand with being involved with the community theater. This concert is a nontraditional partnership that has brought so many unexpected rewards.”

Protect your family in an Emergency

Sign up for your 2017 Membership this fall!

2016 November T&G - 73

Two years ago, Strawberry Fields used the proceeds of the tribute concert to launch Scraps and Skeins, a crafting supply resale store that carries donated fabric and yarn at discount prices. The store serves as both a fund-raiser for Strawberry Fields operations and a job-training site for people dealing with mental-health issues. On multiple levels, Scraps and Skeins is a runaway success.

“That’s from our connection to the State Theatre,” explains Pasquinelli proudly.

The theater has reaped rewards of the rock tribute shows as well in the form of more data to mine. As the State Theatre approaches its 10-year anniversary, Ray and his team are applying the winning formula to a gala event on December 3.

The 10th anniversary celebration, “Decades,” features a combination of local acts such as Jerry Zolten, Richard Sleigh, Nittany Knights, The Unbanned, Grain, and others.

Zeropoint Big Band headlines the show, performing a variety of musical selections that

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas DECEMBER 9th-11th 2016

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas offers a taste of Christmas Past with an Historic Homes Tour, an Arts & Crafts Show, concerts, horse-drawn buggy rides, gingerbread house contest, Santa Express Dec. 16-18 tickets on sale Nov. 1, strolling entertainment, breakfast with Santa and Dinner with Mr. Dickens and company! k roupe Bacd!

Dickens T eman D r la u

By Pop

www.bellefontechamber.org www.bellefontevictorianchristmas.com 74 - T&G November 2016

date back to when the theater was founded as a movie house in 1938.

Having gone from a shuttered movie theater to a vibrant performing arts center, the State Theatre has a lot to celebrate in 10 years. And 10 years from now? Ray dreams of expanding the State Theatre’s reach and reputation, and continuing to use audience feedback to steer programming choices. He dreams of putting Centre County on the map as a destination for high-quality performing arts.

“The more feedback we get from our community, the stronger the State Theatre is going to be,” he predicts. “Because ultimately, we see ourselves as a community resource, like the library or a museum. We belong to the Centre Region, so the more feedback we’re given, the better we can serve our community. And as we do that, we will continue to grow.” T&G Susanna Paul is a writer lives in State College with her husband and two children.

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Holiday Gif t Guide Ace Hardware of State College

…has great gift ideas for entertaining and home décor, including OXO steel wine and bar accessories, tag custom color candles, and fun, silicone Core Kitchen utensils in a variety of bright colors! Oh, and we have paint and hardware, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, and an extensive catalog for special orders.

Let our friendly staff help you find everything you’re looking for this Holiday Season!

150 Rolling Ridge Drive Hill’s Plaza South, off South Atherton 814.237.3333 • www.acehardware.com

The Animal Kingdom Children’s Store

Stop in this holiday season for the best assortment of plush animals, stocking stuffers and seasonal gifts for the young... and the young at heart! Our store offers an exceptional collection of toys, books and baby items as well as children’s apparel with high quality brands like Tea Collection, Zutano and See Kai Run shoes. We specialize in all things adorable and we’d love to add some merriment to your local shopping experience this year.

103 S. Allen Street, State College Downtown State College 814.237.2402 www.theanimalkingdom.com

C&R Candies and More

Your holiday gift shopping isn’t complete without a stop at C&R Candies and More in The Nittany Mall.

Treat your sweet tooth to an assortment of milk and dark chocolates, fudge, peanut butter smoothies, and grab a gift Asher chocolates. Come see our unique variety of drizzled and flavored popcorn, peanut brittle, and pretzel twists by Sweet Jubilee Gourmet.

The Nittany Mall, State College (In front of the Bonton Entrance)

76 - Special Advertising Section

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is now featuring their Twelve Days of Christmas Wine Case!

A spectacular sampling of 12 favorite wines, each with a special holiday label featuring the Twelve Days of Christmas!

Don’t delay! To order your case, contact Tracy@sevenmountainswinecellars.com.

Shipping Available anywhere in the US!

Our beautiful lodge is decorated for the Holidays. Stop in for wine tasting and unique gift ideas for the wine lover on your list OR visit our wine bar “Mountains on Main”, conveniently located on the Diamond in Boalsburg!

Check out our web site for Holiday Hours and Special Events!

107 Mountain Springs Lane, Spring Mills GPS Use 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills (814)364-1000 • www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com

Holiday Gif t Guide CO2 The Unique Boutique

Made in America, Alex and Ani Bracelets are made of recycled materials. Each bracelet comes with a gift box and meaning card. Easy to take on and off, lightweight and comfortable and with a price point of $28-$58, these bracelets make a wonderful gift.

104 N. Allegheny St. Bellefonte, PA 16823 814.353.4258 19 East Main St. Downtown Lock Haven, PA 17745 570.748.2862

Hungry Run Wine & Spirits, available at Squire Brown’s…

Hungry Run Wine & Spirits are handcrafted in small batches, utilizing the highest quality fruit and juice available! We suggest Hungry Run Bourbon with Stonewall Kitchen Apple Cider mixer for a delicious apple pie flavor this Thanksgiving. Sample wines at Squire Brown’s, while you enjoy our stunning collection of seasonal home décor, along with unique gift ideas, that will make your Holiday Season “shiny and bright”!

Milroy exit of Rte. 322, Right at light, one mile on right (beside Honey Creek Inn Restaurant) Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5 717.667.2556 • www.squirebrowns.com

Goot Essa Gift Assortments

Looking for a gift that is unique AND delicious? Design your own gift assortment with Amish cheeses and other foods! Each cheese, spread and fudge are made from all natural ingredients and no added preservatives, from recipes and methods handed down for generations. Direct shipments include a personalized gift card.

Please call 800.490.4387 or email gootessacheese@gmail.com to request our FREE catalog or to place an order!

78 - Special Advertising Section

“Your Hometown Gym” For 25 years, our mission has been to provide the facilities and programs to enhance fitness, athletic performance, health and quality of life.

Our Programs & Facilities include: • One-on-one training • Private and Semi-private Reformer Sessions • Wide Selection of Cardio, Selectorized Equipment and Free Weights • Nutrition Counseling • Massage Therapy • Child Care • Tanning • Silver Sneakers • Healthways Prime Group Fitness: Yoga, Pilates, HIIT, Spinning, Barre, Zumba and many more.

250 W. Hamilton Ave., State College, PA 16801 www.eastcoastfit.com • 234-9400

Special Advertising Section - 79

Holiday Gif t Guide Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard

Wake up hotdogs, dazzle veggies, dunk cheeses, dip pretzels, slather meats, and spice up sandwiches all with the sweet and rough flavor of Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard. A gluten-free, salt-free tasty gift for the favorite people on your list.

Available in these local stores: Weis, McLanahan’s, Wegmans, Giant, Ace Hardware, Honey Baked Ham, Tait Farm and many more.

Like us on Facebook www.HerlocherFoods.com

Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art Annual Holiday Art and Ornament Sale

Join us on Saturday, December 3, for our annual fundraiser, featuring the 2016 commissioned ornament by Cathy Frank.

Another great gift idea is a Friends’ one-year membership, which includes invitations to exhibition and special event receptions.

Palmer Museum of Art • Penn State Curtin Road • University Park, PA 16802 814.865.7672 • www.palmermuseum.psu.edu

Pennwood Home & Hearth YETI- The Cooler You Always Wanted…

The Last You’ll Ever Need

YETI’s are known for being indestructible and keeping things cold! Choose from the YETI Roadie 20 Cooler, extremely durable, pressure injected insulated, providing maximum ice retention, or the Hopper 30, 100% leak proof, soft side portable cooler, built for the long haul and keeping ice for days. Like all YETI Coolers, these are built for the wild. A perfect gift idea from Pennwood Home&Hearth!

West College Avenue, Pleasant Gap, on Rte. 26 between Nittany Mall and Pleasant Gap 814.359.2761 • www.pennwoodcorp.com 80 - Special Advertising Section

Surface and Form

Opening Reception

Friday, November 18th 5PM -8 PM

Enjoy refreshments & music while speaking to artists & experiencing their work. The pieces featured in this exhibit aim to challenge the conventional, push boundaries of scale, pattern and texture, and play with concepts of harmony and dissonance.

featuring:

Jennifer Kane

mixed media on paper

(814) 234-7336 160 Rolling Ridge Dr State College, PA 16801 www.framingstatecollege.com Special Advertising Section - 81

Holiday Gif t Guide Conklin’s Corner Antique & Gift Barn of Philipsburg

Is packed full of unique holiday décor and everyday gifts. Wind and Fire Bangle Bracelets, made in the USA of recycled materials have meaningful and familiar icons to create that perfect gift to symbolize aspects of the wearer’s personality. Hundreds of designs to choose from and a portion of proceeds are donated to various charities supporting children with disabilities. With over 10,000 sq. ft. of gift shop area, the barn is often called one of Central PA’s best kept secrets for unique items. Conklin’s Corner has extended Holiday Hours from Black Friday thru Dec. 23rd, open 7 days a week until 8pm.

Rt. 350, 670 Tyrone Pike, Philipsburg, PA 16866 814.342.0650 • www.ConklinsCornerBarn.com

Stover’s Furniture NEW ARRIVAL

Lancer Living Rooms featuring coil spring seating, available in country and traditional styles, and made in the U.S.A.

Now located in the Nittany Mall Open 7 days a week!

814.238.4222 • stoversfurniture.com

A Beautiful Floral Arrangement from Avant Garden!

The perfect way to show appreciation to your Thanksgiving Day host, or add holiday flair to your home or office! Avant Garden flowers are always fresh, artistically hand-arranged and personally delivered to State College area. Fall Silks are now on sale! Exciting new items for Christmas gifts and Holiday décor!

242 Calder Way, Downtown, State College 814.231.1212 • Toll Free 888.829.9183

82 - Special Advertising Section

Buy

Local

This Holiday Season

STATE AMUSEMENT

BILLIARDS & DARTS Why Buy at a Box Store?

HASSLE FREE Shopping Here!!

We Stand Behind Our Products!

Pool Tables

Pinball

• Selection of custom pool tables and cues, ping-pong, shuffleboard, air hockey & poker tables, dartboards, lighting, and other game room accessories. If we don’t have it, we can get it!

• Free delivery and set up • 12 months same as cash with No Interest • Billiard table cloth recovering, repairs, and service

Visit Our Showroom At:

Dart Boards

Table Games

1358 E. College Avenue State College

814-234-0722

Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. call for holiday hours.

Special Advertising Section - 83

Holiday Gif t Guide Chocolates by Leopold

Only the best for the holidays. That includes Leopold’s Chocolates. Leopold uses fourth generation chocolate recipes to satisfy every chocolate lover’s palate. Find specialties such as Buttercrunch, Peppermint Bark, and Hazelnut Truffles. Or, find holiday creations--Candy Cane Pops, Christmas Trees, Menorah, and more. Everyone says Leopold’s is the way chocolate should taste.

107 West Main Street, Boalsburg (Next to Seven Mountains Winery) Hours: Mon-Sat 11-6, Sun 11:30 to 4:30 814.808.6254 • ChocolatesByLeopold.com

Start your New Year off right at East Coast Health & Fitness, Your Hometown Gym!

Surprise your loved ones this holiday with a gift certificate for personal training, a massage, a reformer session or a membership. East Coast Health & Fitness offers a fully equipped weight area with a wide variety of machines, free weights, and cardio options as well as fun fitness classes led by our devoted team of accomplished instructors!

250 W. Hamilton Ave., State College, PA 16801 814.234.9400 • www.eastcoastfit.com

I “Whalie” Love Happy Valley, Vineyard Vines T Shirt, Exclusively at Harper’s, Celebrating 90 Years!

Made expressly for Harper’s by one of our favorite brands, Vineyard Vines, this 100% cotton tee shirt (Made in Peru), is the perfect gift for any fan who “Whalie” loves Happy Valley! The shirt is available in dark blue (long and short sleeves) and, white (long sleeve only) in sizes XS-XXL. In store or order on-line at www.jackharpers.com.

114 West College Avenue, State College 814.238.4767 • MyDiscoverySpace.org

84 - Special Advertising Section

Bring your favorite Happy Valley Tradition to any holiday and bowl game party!

gluten-free, salt free!

Available at Giant, Weis, Wegmans, McLanahan’s, Honey Baked Ham, Ace Hardware, Tait Farm and many more!

Like us on Facebook and catch up with old friends on the Train Station Restaurant Facebook alumni group page! www.HerlocherFoods.com

Special Advertising Section - 85

Holiday Gif t Guide Amish Furniture Connection

No one can deny the appeal of coming home to a comfortable rocker! Our Amish craftsmen specialize in bent oak, cherry, maple, and walnut, available in natural, light, medium, and dark stains, as well as a variety of painted colors (Yes, blue and white is available!). From start to finish our furniture is 100% hand crafted. This year give that someone special a truly unique gift that will last a lifetime.

We’re open Monday through Saturday with later hours Thursday and Friday evenings. Stop by and visit with us.

2961 Benner Pike • Bellefonte, PA 16823 814.548.7199 www.AmishFC.com

Good Things Come in Glass Bottles, from Barrel 21 Distillery & Otto’s Pub & Brewery!

Otto’s and Barrel 21 feature the best in Holiday Spirits to serve guests and give as gifts! Barrel 21 has maximized the aromatics and robust flavors of the spirits it produces, including rum, apple brandy, whiskey, gin and vodka. Otto’s Craft Beers are always favorites, from Apricot Wheat to Slab Cabin IPA, or a Variety Chest by the case. Need gift ideas?

Glass and plastic growlers, glasses, of course… Gift Cards!

Otto’s Pub and Brewery • 2235 North Atherton St. 814.867.6886 • www.ottospubandbrewery.com Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining • 2255 North Atherton St. 814.308.9522 • www.barrel21distillery.com

Discovery Space Give the Gift of Science!

Family or Grandparent memberships are available for $65-$75.

One-day passes are available for $6 each.

Memberships and passes make great gifts for anyone on your list!

Check out our gift shop , where you can find unique, fun science gifts for children of all ages! Bug lollipops, sprout pencils, tornado tubes, Jabebo earrings, robot kits and more can be found at Discovery Space!

Discovery Space 112 W. Foster Ave. State College, PA 16801 814.234.0200 • MyDiscoverySpace.org 86 - Special Advertising Section

Treat Yourself & Stop in Today!

Featuring Asher’s Chocolates which are locally made in Lewistown.

Our favorites include: peanut butter smoothies, almond buttercrunch, truffles, selection of sugar free candy, and much more! There is also a large assortment of nostalgic candy, birthday baskets, and candy bouquets.

Holiday Candy Coming Soon!

Located next to Bon Ton in the Nittany Mall Mon - Sat: 10am to 9pm, Sun: 11am to 6pm

814 -238 -4767 • w ww. jackharpers.com 114 West College Avenue, State College, PA 16801

41st Annual Juried

WINTER CRAFT MARKET Sat., December 3, 2016

Join Us November 12 & 13 for Our Annual Open House

Light Hors d’Oeuvres & Free Giftwrap

Open Mon. • Sat. 10-5 • Sun. 1-5 Bring this card with you to our open house to enjoy 20% off any one item of your choice.

9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

One Da Show y

Mt. Nittany Middle School

656 Brandywine Drive, State College, PA 16801

Shop handmade and local this holiday season!

Handmade treasures created by over 70 artisans--jewelry, ceramics, fiber, wood, mixed media, metal, photography, painting, and more. Food available and plenty of free parking.

www.wintercraftmarket.com facebook.com/wintercraftmarket

Excludes alex and ani. Valid Nov. 12 & 13, 2016 only.

(717) 667-2556 • www.squirebrowns.com

ADMISSION - $1 off with this ad.

For children under 12, admission is free.

Special Advertising Section - 87

Holiday Gif t Guide Seven Mountains Wine Cellars says “Relish the Cranberry”!

No holiday gathering is complete without the fresh, crisp, taste of Seven Mountain’s award winning, 100% cranberry wine. Perfect to serve with a Thanksgiving turkey, and sure to become a family tradition! Don’t forget to check out our Wine Bar, “Mountains on Main” on the Diamond in Boalsburg, PA.

Main Location: 107 Mountain Springs Lane, Spring Mills only 20 minutes from State College, GPS use 324 Decker Valley Road Boalsburg Location: 101B North Main Street 814.364.1000 www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com

State College Framing Company…

Art for Giving!

Original art is the gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come! Choose an oil painting

by Beverly Klucher, sterling jewelry by Elizabeth Hay Designs, unique pottery by Ian Stainton, or exquisite jewelry by Marsha Dreibelbis at Red Garnet Studios.

We also offer professional framing of your most precious possessions: portraits, artworks, needlework, sports and war memorabilia, or shadow boxes.

160 Rolling Ridge Drive in Hills Plaza South, on South Atherton (814) 234-7336 • www.framingstatecollege.com

The Family Clothesline

We’re your one-stop shop for Penn State clothing and souvenirs! Need a wonderful holiday gift? We recommend Magnolia Lane ceramics! Our thirty-year business is locally owned and operated by Penn State alumni. Come visit -we’d love to see you!

352 East College Avenue, State College, PA 16801 814.237.1946 PennStateClothes.com

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1st Anniversary Moving Into Nittany Mall!

Great Quality companies

Stover’s FURNITURE

42 nd

AN NIV ER SA RY

SA LE

Best ®: Recliners, Sofas, Glider Rockers Vaughan Bassett ®: Bedrooms Lane ®: Recliners, Sofas, Sectionals TEI ®: Solid Wood Dining American Heartland ®: Entertainment Centers Broyhill ®: Living Room & End Sets Sealy ®: Bedding Like Us! Lancer ®: Living Rooms

814.238.4222

Located in the Nittany Mall Open 7 days a week! stoversfurniture.com

Special Advertising Section - 89

Holiday Gif t Guide Tussey Mountain Ski Area Gift Ideas

Winter is coming... get out and enjoy it! Tussey Mountain has snow that we recommend people come glide down, for fun!

Gift Cards can be purchased in any amount and can be used for Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowtubing and can even be used in the summer on Fun Centre activities, like Go-Karts or Mini Golf! But enough about that, its winter time -- our Learn To Ski package is a great way to pick up a healthy, life-long hobby and makes a great gift. Or, save up to 20% off with Tussey Money cards -- they never expire! Shop online, call us, email us or stop by the office -- we’re here to help you find a new and exciting gift for your hard-to-buy-for loved ones!

341 Bear Meadows Road, Boalsburg, PA 814.466.6266 • WWW.TUSSEYMOUNTAIN.COM

Woolrich Company Store

is where you’ll discover a great selection of Woolrich apparel,outerwear, accessories and more. Plus woolen throws woven in Woolrich, PA., perfect for your cabin or home. A great experience and worth the trip.

Woolrich Company Store 1039 Park Ave. Woolrich, PA 570.769.7401

State Amusement Company

Table games are BIG this year, including Bubble Hockey, Air Hockey, Ping Pong, Foosball, Poker, and of course, Pool Tables! Maybe this is the year for a vintage pinball game!

State Amusement has it all- the best selection in town in and an educated showroom staff that can help you choose the best pool cue, chess set, poker chips, dart board, or other unique gift idea.

State Amusement has everything you need for your game room, including Penn State Pool Tables, Bar Stools, Penn State logo overhead lights, and lots more, for the ultimate Penn State Fan game room!

1358 E. College Avenue, State College 814.234.0722 90 - Special Advertising Section

Check out our large selection

of BBQ Accessories, Smoking Chips, Lump Charcoal, BBQ Rubs and Seasonings.

This Holiday Season, Share the Taste of Amish Food!

Easy Ordering, Direct Shipping Request Your Free Catalog Today!

Call 800-490-4387

Or Email: gootessacheese@gmail.com

351 Wise Rd., Howard, PA 16841

Come See Us on December 10 at Bellefonte Victorian Christmas!

CONKLIN’S CORNER ANTIQUE & GIFT BARN 20 Plus Dealer Antique Co-op

Open 7 days a week until 8 p.m.

Black Friday thru December 23.

plus...Huge Country Gift Shop Including Amish Crafts & Accessories Wind & Fire Bangles • Byers' Choice Carolers Handbag & Fashion Apparel Christmas Room Overflowing with Unique Gifts

Rt. 350, 670 Tyrone Pike • Philipsburg, PA 16866 • 342-0650 • www.ConklinsCornerBarn.com Special Advertising Section - 91

This Month

on

WPSU Original Programming Metronome

Thursday, November 3, at 8 p.m.

Metronome highlights local musicians August Room, Revamped, and Raven and the Wren.

SciTech Now

Mondays, at 9 p.m., rebroadcast Sundays, at 6 p.m.

SciTech Now tackles topics including technology, scientific discovery, and innovation. WPSU will feature locally produced segments to add to this weekly half-hour newsmagazine program hosted by Hari Sreenivasan, anchor of PBS NewsHour.

Conversations Live!

Thursday, November 17, at 8 p.m.

Host Patty Satalia leads a discussion on hunting season, the deer population, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. To join the conversation, email questions to connect@wpsu.org, tweet @WPSU with the hastag #WPSUconversations, or call 1-800-543-8242 during the program.

Winter TV Fundraising Campaign Thanksgiving is the start of WPSU-TV’s Winter Fundraising Campaign filled with our finest music and drama, special episodes of your favorite shows, and holiday specials.

Tune in for all your favorite shows and performers or add something new to your viewing, but be sure to support WPSU with your contribution by calling 1-800-245-9779 or online at wpsu.org/donate.

NOVEMBER

Veterans Day In honor of the service and sacrifice made by our military veterans, WPSU and PBS will air documentaries and special programming throughout November.

We Served Too: The Story of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots November 7, at 11 p.m.

Our Flag Still Waves: The Michael Strank Story November 10, at 8 p.m.

America’s Veterans: A Musical Tribute November 12, at 10 p.m.

Searching for Home: Coming Back From War November 13, at 6 p.m.

Matter of Duty: The Continuing War Against PTSD November 20, at 11 p.m.

Pearl Harbor November 23, at 8 p.m.

Expedition Pearl Harbor November 23, at 9 p.m.

A Time To Heal In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, WPSU and community groups will take part in a national, regional, and local dialogue by exploring how Pennsylvanians experienced the war, the opposition to it, and its meaning today.

Launching in 2017, memory, history and healing are the interrelated themes that will guide all that we produce. Learn about the project and how you can participate at wpsu.org/atimetoheal.

wpsu.org for additional program information, visit wpsu.org

Sunday, January 28, 2017 Bryce Jordan Center Game Tipoff – 4:30PM *A portion of individual game ticket sales will be donated to Coaches vs. Cancer!*

Vs. Join your Penn State Nittany Lions, the Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer (CVC) committee and your local American Cancer Society in support of cancer patients and survivors in our region by attending the PSU men’s basketball game against Illinois. The Coaches vs. Cancer Day event will also feature a Silent Auction of sports and celebrity memorabilia. All proceeds from the auction benefit CVC.

Coming to Bryce Jordan Center

NOVEMBER 4 Nittany Lion Basketball vs.

Lock Haven (exhibition) 6 p.m.

11 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Albany 7 p.m.

12 Brand New 7:30 p.m.

13 Lady Lion Basketball vs. St. Peter’s 1 p.m.

13 Nittany Lion Basketball vs.

Duquesne 6 p.m.

15 Nittany Lion Basketball vs.

Grand Canyon 7 p.m.

16 Lady Lion Basketball vs. Akron 7 p.m.

20 Lady Lion Basketball vs. Tennessee 5 p.m.

23 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Colgate 7 p.m.

29 Nittany Lion Basketball vs.

Georgia Tech 7 p.m.

94 - T&G November 2016

T& G 6

what's happening

The State College Area Municipal Band performs its annual Veterans Day Concert at Mount Nittany Middle School.

November

13 The defending national champion Penn State wrestling team hosts Stanford at Rec Hall in its 2016-17 home opener.

17 Downtown State College holds its annual Tree Lighting ceremony.

8

Hear the ukulele as you’ve never heard it played before when Jake Shimabukuro performs at the State Theatre.

11

17 Former Star Trek star

George Takei visits Eisenhower Auditorium as part of the Penn State Speaker Series.

14 Penn State Centre Stage opens its production of Twelfth Night at the Pavilion Theatre. The show runs through December 3.

The Penn State men’s basketball team opens its 2016-17 season hosting Albany at the Bryce Jordan Center.

26

15 Blue guitarist and singer Robert Cray performs with his band at the State Theatre.

The Penn State football team wraps up its regular season hosting Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

30 The Bria Skonberg Quintet visits Schwab Auditorium.

13

The Penn State women’s basketball team plays its 2016-17 home opener against St. Peter’s at the Bryce Jordan Center..

16 CBICC holds its annual Business Expo at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center.

To have an event listed in “What’s Happening," e-mail dpenc@barashmedia.com.

2016 November T&G - 95

Children & Families 1, 7, 8 – Baby & Me Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

1, 7, 8 – Tales for Twos Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

2, 9 – Toddler Learning Centre, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:15 & 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, United Methodist Church, SC, 10:30 a.m. Wed., 9:30 a.m. Sat., 466-3414.

2, 9 – 3s, 4s, 5s Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

2, 9 – Everybody Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, Oakwood Presbyterian Church, SC, 10:45 a.m., 466-3414.

4, 23, 28 – Discovery Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5 – Block Party, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Saturday Stories Alive, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

6 – Give Thanks!, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

12 – Kids Day IV: Dress Up and Discover!, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 10 a.m., pamilmuseum.org.

12 – Young Writers’ Workshop, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

13 – Under the Sea, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

20 – The Nutcracker, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

29 – Polar Express Pre-Registration Begins, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

Classes & Lectures 1 – “Leadership Lessons Learned,” Central PA Convention and Visitors Center, PSU, 7:30 a.m., leadershipcentrecounty.org.

1 – Central PA Civil War Roundtable (Turkey Dinner meeting): “A Survey of Confederate Ironclads” by Dr. John Quarstein, Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, SC, 6 p.m., pamilmuseum.org.

96 - T&G November 2016

1, 15 – “A Joint Venture,” information session on hip or knee replacement, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11 a.m.

Nov. 1, 7 p.m. Nov. 15, 278-4810.

2 – The Art of Poetry: Robin Beth Schaer, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

2 – Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series: “Nurses of Bataan and Corregidor” by Dr. Julie Decker, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., pamilmuseum.org.

2 – Penn State Speaker Series: Gloria Steinem, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., studentaffairs.psu.edu/womenscenter.

3 – CBICC Business Educational Series: “Determine the Quality of Your Retirement” by Tom King, CBICC Board Room, SC, 8 a.m., cbicc.org.

3 – Research Unplugged: “Brand You: Marketing Your Career in the Digital Age” by Marie Hardin, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 12:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

4 – Gallery Talk: “Expanded Practice”

by Brian Alfred and Rudy Shepherd, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

4 – Paper Views Conversation: “word/ image/japan” by Charlotte Eubanks and Erica Sanders, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 1 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

5 – Huddle with the Faculty: “National Security and the Law: Challenges for the Next President” by Dean Houck, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 9 a.m., alumni.psu.edu/events.

6 – Docent Choice Tour: “New York, New York!” by Sally Kalin, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

9 – Gallery Talk: Lori Rose, Penn State All-Sports Museum, PSU, noon, gopsusports.com/museum.

10 – Research Unplugged: “Fitness Rx: The Exercise of Healthy Aging” by Jinger Gottschall, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 12:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

11 – Gallery Talk: “Expanded Practice”

by Michael Collins and Matthew Olson, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

12 – Penn State Forum Speaker Series: “The Importance of Stakeholder Engagement in an Activist World” by Kim Jeffrey, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 11:30 a.m., sites.psu.edu/forum.

13 – Docent Choice Tour: “Transformed in Fire: Ceramics and Cultures of Peru”

by Susan Hirth, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

15 – Straight Talk: “Relational Aggression” by Deborah McCoy, Mount Nittany Middle School, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., janamariefoundation.org.

16 – “The Rogue Kimberlites of Indiana County” by Dr. Duff Gold, Earth and Engineering Sciences Building, PSU, 7:45 p.m., nittanymineral.org.

17 – Family Medicine Seminar: Narcotic Analgesic Management in the Treatment of Pain in the Outpatient Setting, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 234-6738.

17 – Penn State Speaker Series: George Takei, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m.

19 – Gadgets for Grownups: Tablet and eReader Buying Guide, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

26– Huddle with the Faculty: “Thou Didst Mold Us: Penn State’s Accomplishments Through the Decades” by Jackie Esponsito, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 9 a.m., alumni.psu.edu/events

Club Events 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – State College Rotary Club, Nittany Lion Inn, SC, 5:30 p.m., statecollegerotary.org.

2, 9, 16, 23, 29 – State College Sunrise Rotary Club, Hotel State College, SC, 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com.

2, 16 – Outreach Toastmasters, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, kbs131@psu .edu.

3, 10, 17 – Comics Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

3, 10, 17 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club/.

5 – Evening Book Club: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

by Jenny Lawson, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Go Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

7, 21 – Knitting Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

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@TownGownSC 2016 November T&G - 97

9 – Teen Book Club: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:45 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

9 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7:30 p.m., 861-0770.

16 – Senior Book Club: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 12:15 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

19 – Boardgame Meetup, Schlow Centre Region Library, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

19 – Lego Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

21 – Parrot Owner’s Group, Perkins, 525 Benner Pike, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2722.

23 – Afternoon Book Club: American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

Community Associations & Development 10 – CBICC Business After Hours: Days Inn Penn State, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org.

15 – Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, 7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org.

16 – CBICC Business Expo, Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, PSU, 8 a.m., cbicc.org.

23 – Patton Township Business Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, noon, 237-2822.

Exhibits Ongoing – Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum, Boalsburg, 1:30-5 p.m.

Tues.-Sun., boalmuseum.com.

Ongoing – Underground Railroad: A Journey to Freedom, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon4:30 p.m. Fri-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org.

Ongoing-17 – The Importance of the Unimportant, Robeson Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/artgalleries.

Ongoing-27 – One Farm: Multiple Perspectives, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon-4:30 p.m. FriSun., bellefontemuseum.org.

98 - T&G November 2016

Ongoing-December 4 – Deconstructed Form: An Investigation of Silhouette, Contour, and Shape, HUB Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/artgalleries.

Ongoing-December 11 – Expanded Practice, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.), noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-December 18 – Recent Acquisitions: Gifford Beal in Rockport, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tues.-Sat. (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.), noon-4 p.m.

Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-December 18 – The Gentle Satire of Adolf Dehn, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.), noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

4 – Paper Views Exhibition: word/image/ japan, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

4-27 – Print Show, Art Alliance Gallery Downtown, SC, noon-6 p.m. Wed. & Sat., noon-8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sun., artalliancegallerydowntown.org.

Health Care For schedule of blood drives visit redcross.org or givelife.org.

2 – Amputee Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 5 p.m., 359-5630.

6, 10 – Juniper Village at Brookline’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn, SC, 1 p.m. Sun., 6:30 p.m. Thurs., 231-3141.

7 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7 p.m., 231-6870.

8 – Brain Injury Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421.

9 – The Fertility Issues and Loss Support Group, Choices (2214 N. Atherton St.), SC, 6 p.m., heartofcpa.org.

10 – Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 231-7095.

10 – Parents-to-be Orientation, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 231-3132.

16 – Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Foxdale Village, SC, 1:30 p.m., 867-6212.

16 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, Elmcroft Senior Living, SC, 6:30 p.m., 235-7675.

17 – Cardiopulmonary Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 2 p.m., 359-3421.

21 – Cancer Survivors’ Association, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., 238-6220.

22 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421.

27 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024.

29 – Stroke Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421.

Music

Straight No Chaser brings its “I’ll Have Another … Twentieth Anniversary World Tour" to Eisenhower Auditorium November 11.

4 – Penn State School of Music: Oriana Singers, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 2 p.m., music.psu.edu.

4 – Penn State School of Music: Faculty Spotlight Concert Series II, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 4 p.m., music.psu.edu.

4 – Penn State School of Music: Bandorama, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7 p.m., music.psu.edu.

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2016 November T&G - 99

4 – Jazz in the Attic: Matthew Fries and Rick Hirsch, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

6 – State College Area Municipal Band presents Veterans Day Concert, Mount Nittany Middle School, Boalsburg, 3 p.m.

6 – Big Gigantic, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

8 – Jake Shimabukuro, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

10 – Penn State School of Music: Clarinet Studio Recital, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

10 – Dopapod with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, State Theatre, SC, 9 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

11 – Straight No Chaser, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu.

12 – Penn State School of Music: Glee Club, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

13 – Penn State School of Music: University Choir, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 2 p.m., music.psu.edu.

13 – Lycoming Piano Trio, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, SC, 3 p.m., uufcc.com.

13 – Penn State School of Music: Concert Choir, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, PSU, 6 p.m., music.psu.edu.

13 – Home Free, State Theatre, SC, 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

13 – Penn State School of Music: Chamber Orchestra, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

15 – Penn State School of Music: Centre Dimensions Jazz Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

15 – Robert Cray Band, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

16 – The Art of Music: Open Music Ensemble: “Mutal Provocation: Music, Action, and Thought,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

16 – Penn State School of Music: Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

17 – Thursday Afternoons with the Second Winds, American Ale Hose & Grill, SC, 3 p.m., 237-9701.

17 – Penn State School of Music: Clarinet Choir, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

17 – Roomful of Teeth, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu.

TASTE of the

MONTH

Each month, Town&Gown highlights a local place to eat and offers a glimpse into the great dining of our community.

100 - T&G November 2016

30 – Penn State School of Music: Percussion Ensemble II, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 5 p.m., music.psu.edu.

30 – Bria Skonberg Quintet, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu.

30 – Penn State School of Music: Percussion Ensemble I and Mallet Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

Special Events 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Tuesdays State College Farmers’ Market, Locus Lane, S.C., 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org.

2 – Old Bag Auction, Nittany Mall, SC, 10 a.m., 231-3076.

3 – Global Connections: Women’s International Night, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, SC, 6:30 p.m., gc-cc.org.

4 – First Friday, Downtown State College, 5 p.m., firstfridaystatecollege.com.

4-5 – Ten Thousand Villages International Fair Trade Craft Sale, University Mennonite Church, SC, 9 a.m., 234-2039.

4, 11, 18, 25 – Downtown Farmers’ Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Bellefonte Farmers’ Market, Gamble Mill parking lot, 8 a.m., visitpennstate.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Millheim Farmers’ Market, Old Gregg Mills Farmers’ Market, Spring Mills, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org.

5, 12, 19, 26 – North Atherton Farmers’ Market, Home Depot parking lot, SC, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org.

12 – Housing Transitions Run for Shelter 5K, Centre House, SC, 9 a.m., housingtransitions.org.

12 – Candlelight Harvest Dinner, Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, Centre Hall, 6 p.m., 466-6373.

13-17 – Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State, various locations, gew.psu.edu.

17 – Annual Tree Lighting, Downtown State College, 5:30 p.m.

18 – Central PA Country Dance Association presents Contra Dance, State College Friends School, SC, 7:30 p.m., cpcda.org.

2016 November T&G - 101

19 – Centre County Community Super Fair, Mount Nittany Middle School, Boalsburg, 10 a.m., thecchs.org.

19 – Doggie Fashion Show, Centre Hills Country Club, SC, noon, petscomefirst.net.

19-20, 26-27, Dec. 3-4 – Heartland Christmas, Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail, pawinetrail.com.

20 – Central PA Gluten Free Expo, Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, PSU, 12:30 p.m., centralpagfexpo.com.

Sports For tickets to Penn State sporting events, visit gopsusports.com or call (814) 865-5555.

3-4 – PSU/Niagara, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m.

4 – PSU/Lock Haven, men’s basketball (exhibition), BJC, PSU, 6 p.m.

4 – PSU/Nebraska, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 8 p.m.

5 – PSU/Iowa, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 4 p.m.

5 – PSU/Iowa, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, 7:30 p.m.

11 – NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, cross country, Penn State Golf Courses, PSU, noon.

11 – PSU/Albany, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

11-12 – PSU/Lindenwood, women’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, noon Fri., 1 p.m.

Sat. 11-12 – PSU/Alaska Anchorage, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m.

13 – PSU/St. Peter’s, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 1 p.m.

13 – PSU/Stanford, wrestling, Rec Hall, PSU, 2 p.m.

13 – PSU/Duquesne, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 6 p.m.

15 – PSU/Grand Canyon, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

16 – PSU/Akron, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

18-19 – PSU/Arizona State, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m. Fri., 3 p.m.

Sat. 19 – PSU/Purdue, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

19-20 – Garret Penn State Open, fencing, White Building, PSU, 8 a.m.

20 – PSU/Tennessee, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 5 p.m.

102 - T&G November 2016

21-22 – PSU/St. Lawrence, women’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 6 p.m. Mon., 3 p.m. Tues.

23 – PSU/Colgate, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

25 – PSU/Northwestern, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

26 – PSU/Illinois, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

26 – PSU/Michigan State, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, TBA. 29 – PSU/Georgia Tech, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

Theater 5, 19 – State College Community Theatre presents Curious George: The Golden Meatball, Calvary Church, Boalsburg, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m., scctonline.org.

6 – Bolshoi Ballet in HD presents The Bright Stream, State Theatre, SC, 3 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

9 – Henry Rollins, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

10-13, 17-20 – The Next Stage Theatre Company presents The Archbishop’s Ceiling, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., thestatetheatre.org.

11 – Out Loud: Robin Becker, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, 7:30 p.m., bellefontemuseum.org.

14-December 3 – Penn State Centre Stage presents Twelfth Night, Pavilion Theatre, PSU, 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinee Dec. 3).

18 – Tempest Productions presents Poe: Deep into that Darkness, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., tempestproductions.org.

18-20 – State College Area High School Thespians presents Peter and the Starcatcher, State High North Building, SC, 7:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., scasd.org. T&G

T& G

from the vine

What’s in a Year?

Vintage matters more to some regions than others when it comes to producing quality wine

By Lucy Rogers

Weather plays a crucial role in determining if the vintage of a particular wine is good or not.

“That was a very good year,” you’ll hear people say about a certain wine’s vintage. But often people wonder about the significance of the vintage on a bottle of wine, especially when they are trying to decide on what to buy in the store or in a restaurant. What does the vintage actually mean and does it really matter?

The vintage, or the year the grapes used to make a bottle of wine are harvested, is usually listed on the label of a bottle of wine. Its rating as a good or bad vintage is a judgment by the community at large — usually by wine writers and/or professional wine associations — on the growing conditions of that particular year, but more specifically, on the weather.

Too hot, too cool, too humid, too rainy, too dry can all change the way the fruit develops on the vine, and therefore, the way the fruit tastes when it is harvested: very ripe or overly ripe, or perhaps unripe.

Bumper crops sometimes result in fruit that is lacking in flavor, while smaller yields per vine result in grapes whose flavor is highly concentrated. The way that fruit tastes at the time of harvest is going to impact the way the wine tastes when you pour it out of the bottle a year — or in most cases, several years — after it was plucked off the vine.

So at a base level, one can say that, Yes, of course the vintage matters. A colder-than-average year with less-than104 - T&G November 2016

average sunshine might result in a wine made from fruit that didn’t ripen optimally, potentially making a wine that might taste “green,” or less fruity, than when produced under ideal conditions.

This is a simple enough concept.

The tricky part comes when one considers the hundreds of varied wine-producing regions in the world, each with its own climate.

These regions grow wine grapes because their particular soil type and climate work well for growing them.

(Most wine regions are known for growing one or two certain grapes particularly well — Malbec in Argentina, Cabernet in Napa Valley, Sangiovese in Tuscany, Riesling in Germany, Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand, etc.) But just because Tuscany experiences a rough year due to too much rain, it doesn’t mean every wine-growing region in the world also had too much rain that year, nor does it mean that other regions didn’t have a perfect growing season.

So 2002 might have been a bad vintage for Tuscany but was a stellar year for Malbec in Mendoza, 7,200 miles away. So there is never a globally acknowledged “good vintage” because climates vary from region to region, so knowing the good vintage years means first understanding that some years can be good in some places while bad in others. Which means if you want to consider a wine’s vintage during the buying process, you either have to commit the vintage ratings around the world (found at Web sites such as winespectator.com or wineenthusiast.com) to memory, or you carry a pocket-sized vintage chart when you shop. And while this may seem a little over the top in terms of basic wine shopping, consider how many times you have stood in the wine store with two

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bottles of wine in your hand, trying to decide which one to purchase. While many factors go into making that decision — price, producer, grape varietal — if all other variables are equal and the vintages are different, knowing which wine has a better vintage could be the deciding factor.

There are some experts, though, that say the vintage isn’t as important when talking about wines from relatively consistent climates such as California and Australia, which are considered to have little vintage variation. They say that these variations aren’t significant enough to impact the quality of each season’s vintage in any meaningful way, at least in comparison to European wine regions, whose climates are less regular and whose shifts in weather will directly impact the quality and flavor of the wine produced in a given year.

The reality is that wines most commonly purchased by American consumers come from California and are for almost immediate consumption. They range somewhere in the $10 to $20 price range. These are wines that are designed to be consistent from year to year, so that a brand’s style is a known commodity. You like winery XYZ’s Chardonnay because it’s a classic California style — rich and buttery, with the right amount of acid, and well made for the price of $14.99 — and it seems to taste the same year after year every time you open a bottle. Yet even in a relatively consistent climate, this seems to be an almost impossible task when you take into account all the possible variables. How can a winery make a wine that tastes consistent year after year?

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There are a couple of reasons. The first being that, by federal law (in the US at least), a wine with a vintage on the label has to be made from 85 percent grapes harvested in that year, leaving the remaining 15 percent to possibly be drawn from wines of other vintages. So winery X has a not-so-sunny year, leaving fruit and the resulting wine with underripe flavors. A winemaker is allowed to make up the remaining percentage of that year’s wine with juice from a previous vintage, perhaps one that produced overly ripe fruit that will help balance the wine out and create the desired flavor profile from year to year. Heck, it might even be wine made from a different grape because in the US a label that has a grape varietal named on the front has to be only 85 percent that grape.

Interestingly, it is often said that skilled winemakers prefer a challenging vintage because it is in those imperfect growing years that vintners really have to rely more heavily on their ability as a winemaker to make good wine from a notso-good harvest. Talented winemakers believe “anyone” can make good wine in a good vintage year — it is in the bad years that an exceptional winemaker gets to demonstrate their craft.

But a good vintage really is a boon to everyday wine drinkers, especially those who tend to look for less nationally known brands or explore boutique producers. If northern California has a good growing season and the vintage is rated good because the fruit is abundant, ripe, and flavorful, all northern California winemakers experience those weather conditions, and so every winery has good fruit to start their winemaking process — not just the folks with the prime real estate with a perfect microclimate and perfect soil conditions. It means that in a good year, even lesser-skilled winemakers can produce better bottles of wine than they usually do. And what that means to wine lovers is that just as a rising tide lifts all boats, a good vintage can lift all wines, and there’s a good chance that a $12 wine will taste more like a $20 bottle, thanks to Mother Nature. T&G Lucy Rogers is the tasting room manager for Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte. She can be reached at lucy@bigspringspirits.com, or you can find her in the tasting room.

2016 November T&G - 107

Taste of the Month Mmm ‌ Donuts!

Dam Donuts provide some creativity to the sweet treat

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By Vilma Shu Danz Photos by Darren Andrew Weimert

Dam Donuts has become a popular place to hang out in Bellefonte.

The donut has become a distinctly American food passion. The word “doughnut,” and its shortened variation, “donut,” have been around since the 1800s.

In World War I, female Salvation Army workers known as Doughnut Girls would fry and distribute donuts to the American soldiers fighting in France. These sweet treats offered a taste of home to the American soldiers, who coincidently became known as “Doughboys.” During World War II, these Doughnut Girls became known as Doughnut Dollies.

In the last two decades, every American recognizes the iconic image of the famed animated television character Homer Simpson and his love for donuts!

Dam Donuts, located at 216 West High Street in Bellefonte, is a family-owned business offering a wide variety of plain and seasonal-inspired donuts, with an endless

A dozen delectable Dam Donuts

combination of frostings and toppings. Owners Traci and Mike Beck had wanted to open a bakery in the area for the last 15 years.

“I have always loved to bake, ever since I was kid with my Easy-Bake Oven, so my husband and I have been visiting bakeries to get ideas,” explains Traci.

“Then, we walked into a donut shop one day and thought, That’s it! I can be creative with the different flavors, offer coffee, and have a cozy environment for people to hang out, study, and relax.”

With both Traci and Mike being natives of Howard, Traci’s mother joked that they should name the shop Dam Donuts after the Howard Dam, and the name stuck.

“The more we said it, the more we loved it!” says Traci. On National Donut Day (June 3) 2016, Dam Donuts had its grand opening, and locals immediately began raving over the distinctively light and airy cake-like donut.

“On the weekends, we have a line out the door, and even though we say that we open at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, we have had to open our doors early!” says Mike.

Traci starts her day at Dam Donuts at 4 a.m., mixing dough and getting the fryer hot. Armed with a pair of wooden chopsticks, the donut batter hits the hot oil, and within 30 seconds 2016 November T&G - 109

Hot sauce-inspired spicy and sweet donuts

Owners Mike and Traci Beck she flips them over to the other side, creating the perfectly golden-brown crust.

“We make donuts throughout the day, so they are always fresh for our customers,” says Traci. “Once they have cooled, we have a display table of some of the most popular combinations, like our maple bacon, pumpkin cream cheese, and autumn apple.”

Of course, there is always the plain, the cinnamon sugar, the glazed, and the powdered sugar.

Mike says, “We encourage people to make their own combinations, so customers can start by choosing a plain donut, a cinnamon sugar donut, or our seasonal donut, like our pumpkin (for 99 cents), then for 10 cents more, they can add a frosting such as peanut butter, salted caramel, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, orange, just to name a few. Then, you can stop there, or for 10 more cents, add a topping such as rainbow sprinkles, Swedish fish, M&Ms, white, dark, or milk chocolate drizzle — you name it, we probably have it!”

110 - T&G November 2016

For a uniquely spicy donut experience, Dam Donut took Bonfatto’s Razz Hab, Peaches & Scream, and Apple Pepper Jack hot sauces to make three donuts that will surely intrigue the taste buds.

This holiday season, Dam Donuts will be experimenting with a peppermint donut.

Custom orders are available for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. T&G For more information, visit damdonuts.com.

Vilma Shu Danz is operations manager and assistant editor for Town&Gown.

For a special offer for a free donut with purchase of a large coffee from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, visit townandgown.com.

T& G

dining out

All restaurants are in State College or on the Penn State campus, and in the 814 area code unless noted.

Full Course Dining bar bleu, 114 S. Garner St., 237-0374, bar-bleu.com. Socializing and sports viewing awaits at bar bleu. Don’t miss a minute of the action on 22 true 1080i HDMI high-definition flat-screen monitors displaying the night’s college and pro matchups. The bar serves up 16 draft beers in addition to crafted cocktails, including the “Fishbowl,” concocted in its own 43-ounce tank! Pub fare featuring authentic Kansas Citystyle barbecue is smoked daily on-site. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar.

Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, 2255 N. Atherton St., 308-9522, barrel21distillery .com. Barrel offers a unique gastro-distillery dining experience that features our one of a kind spirits and beer which are made on premise. Our menu of rotating seasonal items blends classic dishes with current trends to deliver new and interesting presentations for our guests to enjoy. Sunday brunch is a favorite with made-to-order omelets, Bloody Mary bar, and full buffet, including Irving’s bagels, smoked salmon platter, house-made pastries, and much more. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m.Tuesday through Friday, featuring half-price Barrel 21 spirits and Otto’s beer. Our tasting room also is open if you would like to take a bottle home with you, and our private dining room is available for your special event. We look forward to seeing you at Barrel 21!

Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant, 100 Cricklewood Drive, 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Your dining experience begins with a wide array of appetizers and entrees that compare to the best restaurants of the largest cities in the United States. Additionally, the Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant wine list is one of the best in the area and features a wide variety of wines from California, France, and other countries. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar.

Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 2375710, The DeliRestaurant.com. Since 1973, The Deli has served up New York-style deli favorites on an American menu offering everything from comfort food to pub favorites, all made from scratch. Soups, breads, sauces, and awardwinning desserts are homemade here early in the morning folks. Look for its rotating menu of food- themed festivals throughout the year. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire acceptable. Private dining rooms available.

AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking. AE, MC, V. Full bar.

Key AE............................................................American Express CB ...................................................................Carte Blanche D ................................................................. Discover/Novus DC.........................................................................Diners Club ID+ ................................................ PSU ID+ card discounts LC............................................................................. LionCash MAC........................................................................debit card MC........................................................................MasterCard V.......................................................................................... Visa ............................................... Handicapped-accessible

To advertise, call Town&Gown account executives Kathy George or Debbie Markel at (814) 238-5051.

2016 November T&G - 111

Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 234-9000, faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hangout, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade Italian cuisine. Seafood specialties, sumptuous salads, divine desserts, great service, and full bar.

Outside seating available. Sorry, reservations not accepted. Dine-in, Take out. MC/V. Galanga, 454 E. College Ave., 237-1718.

Another great addition to Cozy Thai Bistro.

Galanga by Cozy Thai offers a unique authentic Thai food featuring Northeastern Thai-style cuisine. Vegetarian menu selection available.

BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m.

AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our special- ties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer.

112 - T&G November 2016

Gigi’s, W. College Ave, on the corner of Cato Ave., 861-3463, gigisdining.com. Conveniently located 5 minutes from downtown State College, Gigi’s is a farm-to-table dining experience inspired by the hottest southern trends. Outdoor Patio. Lunch & Dinner. Full Bar. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. The Greek, 102 E. Clinton Ave., 308-8822, thegreekrestaurant.net. Located behind The Original Waffle Shop on North Atherton Street.

Visit our Greek tavern and enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. From fresh and abundant vegetables to the most succulent kebabs, each dish has been perfected to showcase genuine Greek flavors. When we say “authentic,” we mean it. Full service, BYOB. D, MC, V. Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, “Where Bacon Is An Herb,” 132 W. College Ave., 272-0738. Located next to the State Theatre. Serving authentic Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 8 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering. Glutenfree options available. Bacon-based dessert.

Homemade breads, BYO beer or wine all day.

Sense of humor required. D, MAC, MC, V.

Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375, HiWayPizza.com. The State College tradition for nearly 50 years, nobody does it better than Hi-Way! Offering more than 29 varieties of hand-spun pizzas made from scratch offer an endless combination of toppings. Its vodka “flaky” crust and red stuffed pizzas are simply a must have. Hi-Way’s menu rounds out with pasta dishes, calzones, grinders, salads, and other Italian specialties. Eat-in, take-out, or Hi-Way delivery. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 1454 North Atherton Street, State College, 234-4009, www.hosss.com.

Since 1983, Hoss’s has been providing considerate service, delicious food, and a pleasant environment that brings family and friends together. We offer a variety of steaks, chicken, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches. Hoss’s showcase is our all-you-can-eat Hosspitality Bars — offering fresh salads, soups, breads, and desserts. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, 237-3400.

Large selection of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes from northern India. Lunch buffet offered daily. We offer catering for groups and private parties. AE, D, MC, V.

NEW $10 Express lunch menu Monday-Friday 11am-2pm Ribs on the Road for every home game starting at 8am

814.237.6300 • lettermans.net • Lettermans 1031 E. College Avenue • State College, PA 2016 November T&G - 113

Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, InfernoBrickOvenBar.com. With a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere, Inferno is a place to see and be seen. A full-service bar boasts a unique specialty wine, beer, and cocktail menu. Foodies — Inferno offers a contemporary Neapolitan brick-oven experience featuring a focused menu of artisan pizzas and other modern-Italian plates. Lunch and dinner service transi- tions into night as a boutique nightclub with dance- floor lighting, club sound system, and the area’s most talented resident DJs. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Legends Pub at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5080. Unwind with beverages and a casual lounge menu. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

Liberty Craft House, 346 E. College Ave., 954-4923, LibertyCraftHouse.com. A worthy destination inspired by their passion for knowledge, skill, and small-batch artisan goods. Liberty is a humble neighborhood joint with design cues from the industrial revolution that provides a comfortable post for a few drinks, food, and good times. A one-of-a-kind, worldclass digital-menu-driven draft system features nitro-coffee, craft sodas, cocktails, wine, ales, lagers, and hand-pumped cask ale. Specializing in American whiskey, Liberty boasts a bottled beer, wine, mead, cider, and spirits list that would make your buddy jealous. Hungry? Liberty’s menu focuses on small-batch, local, organic, and artisan food made 100 percent in-house, fresh from scratch. Charcuerie, fromage, and flat breads are at the heart of the menu that is complemented by many other classic gastropub favorites.

Open 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. every day (kitchen ’til midnight). AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

Award-winning pizza and Italian Cuisine.

Homemade… with only the best and freshest ingredients.

1229 S. Atherton St., State College

234-9000

W W W. F A C C I A L U N A . C O M

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Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273, MariosItalianStateCollege.com.

Fresh specialty dishes, pasta, sauces, hand-tossed pizzas, and rotisserie wood-grilled chicken all made from scratch are just a few reasons why Mario’s is authentically Italian! At the heart of it all is a specialty wood-fired pizza oven and rotisserie that imparts rustic flavors that can’t be beat! Mario’s loves wine and is honored with six consecutive Wine Spectator awards and a wine list of more than 550 Italian selections. Mario’s even pours 12 rotating specialty bottles on its WineStation® state-of-the-art preservation system. Reservations and walk-ins welcome. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St., 867-6886, ottospubandbrewery.com. State College’s most awarded craft-beer pub and brewery featuring more than a dozen fresh, house-brewed ales and lagers on tap as well as fine, affordably priced, local American food with vegan and vegetarian offerings, a kids’ menu, weekly features, and seasonal menu. Open for lunch and dinner in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. Barrel 21 craft distilled spirits available. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

INGREDIENT DRIVEN • SEASONAL • NEW AMERICAN CUISINE EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • BY THE BOTTLE & GLASS

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814 . 237. 8474

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Mini Golden Cup

available at

COZY THAI BISTRO 232 S. Allen Street.

State College, PA 16801 Tel: 814.237.0139 E-mail: cozythai@gmail.com 2016 November T&G - 115

Philipsburg Elks Lodge & Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, 342-0379, philipsburgelks.com. Restaurant open to the public!

Monday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday 9-3. Member-only bar. New golf-member special, visit our Web site for summer golf special. AE MC, V. Full Bar (members only).

The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.

Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.

Come try

Meyer Dairy's

Pumpkin Ice Cream !

Open Daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

2390 S. Atherton St. - (814) 237-1849

Serving authentic Colombian coffees

fresh juices, empanadas and more!

Come relax at 324 E. Calder Way, Downtown State College Mon-Sat 7am-8pm, Sunday 10am-8pm

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Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar features ingredient-driven, seasonal, new American cuisine paired with an extensive wine list, certified wine professional, and exceptional service. Zola’s also features a new climate-controlled wine room, premium by-the-glass wine pours, fine liquor, and craft beer at its full-service bar. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations recommended.

Catering. Free parking after 5:30 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Good Food Fast Baby’s Burgers & Shakes, 131 S. Garner St., 2344776, babysburgers.com. Love poodle skirts, a jukebox playing the oldies, and delicious food cooked to order?

Then Baby’s Burgers & Shakes is your kind of restaurant!

Bring the entire family and enjoy a “Whimpy” burger, a Cherry Coke, or delicious chocolate shake, and top it off with a “Teeny Weeny Sundae” in our authentic 1947 Silk City Diner. Check out Baby’s Web site for full menu and daily specials! D, MC, V, MAC, Lion’s Cash.

Barranquero Café, 324 E. Calder Way, 954-7548, barranquerocafe.com. A locally owned coffee shop specializing in authentic Colombian coffees and specialty drinks. Works closely with its coffee suppliers in Colombia to ensure that it receives only the highest quality coffee beans the region has to offer. Also serves fresh fruit juices, empanadas, and more! Hopes to bring a little piece of Colombia to Happy Valley! Summer Hours: Tues.-Sat. 8a.m.-8p.m., Sun. 10a.m.-5p.m.

Closed Monday.

Fiddlehead, 134 W. College Ave., 237-0595, fiddleheadstatecollege.com. Fiddlehead is a soup-andsalad café offering soups made from scratch daily. Create your own salad from more than 40 fresh ingredients.

HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all!

Enjoy 12 different eateries in the HUB-Robeson Center on campus. Jamba Juice, McAlister’s Deli, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Grate Chee, Sbarro, Soup & Garden, Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San

by Panda.V, MC, LC.

Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave., 231-0604, irvingsstatecollege.com. Irving’s is State College’s finest bakery café serving award-winning bagels, espresso, sandwiches, salads, and smoothies.

Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. A State College Classic! Meyer Dairy is the perfect choice for a quick, homemade lunch with fresh soups and sandwiches or treat yourself to your favorite flavor of ice cream or sundae at our ice cream parlor. Fresh milk from our own dairy cows (we do not inject our cows with BST), eggs, cheese, ice cream cakes, baked goods, and more! Plus, Meyer Dairy is the best place to pick up your Town&Gown magazine each month!

Specialty Foods Dam Donuts, 216 W. High Street, Bellefonte, 548-7825, damdonuts.com. Locally owned, specialty donut shop. Made-to-order donuts are made daily, right before your eyes! House-blend coffee, cold-brew coffee, and bubble tea also. We offer a variety of frostings and toppings to tickle your taste buds! Also offering call-ahead orders and special occasions orders. Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. & Sun., Closed Mon. AE, D, MC, V. T&G

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T& G

lunch with mimi

Small Home, Big Heart Darren Andrew Weimert

State College’s House of Care provides love and support to those in need

House of Care executive director Phil Jones (left) talks with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith at Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Since October 2014, Phil Jones has been the executive director of House of Care, but his involvement with the nonprofit organization actually began in 2010 when he served as an administrator and director. House of Care is a five-bedroom nonprofit personal-care home in State College dedicated to serving those with extremely low income, little-to-no family support, and requiring assistance with activities of daily living.

Jones’s role is to manage day-to-day operations and act in collaboration with the board of directors to ensure the sustainability and viability of the home. He also monitors and directs his sixperson staff under the guidelines of the PA Department of Health to ensure the safety, care, and well-being of the residents.

Prior to this work at the House of Care, Jones served as mission associate of the State College Presbyterian Church. He was the founding director of the area’s Church World Service Refugee Resettlement Program and has served congregations in Florida, Virginia, Illinois, and North Carolina as a minister, and has experience as a prison chaplain.

Born and raised in rural southwest Virginia, he earned an undergraduate degree in animal science/livestock management from North Carolina State University in 1975. He later received a master of divinity degree with a peace studies emphasis from Bethany Theological Seminary in Oak Brook, Illinois, and began his career in ministry.

118 - T&G November 2016

In 2009, he moved to Pennsylvania, where his wife of almost 10 years, Jill Loomis, is a clinical social worker with a private practice in State College.

Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith sat down with Jones at Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College to discuss what services are offered at the House of Care and who it serves, how readers can help make financial donations to support the organization, and the overwhelming need for more personal-care facilities.

Mimi: Well, Phil, welcome. I am familiar with House of Care in a general way, but if someone asked me exactly what the details of your mission are, I wouldn’t be able to tell them, so I am going to guess that a lot of our readers will enjoy learning about the remarkable work that you do. Tell me how you got involved in it?

Phil: Thank you for inviting me to be part of this. I have a background in nonprofit and pastoral ministry. I have done a lot of things in my lifetime, but most have been in the social services area. I have had an opportunity to deal hands-on with people that probably just need a helping hand.

The House of Care is certainly a place we can do that. That is why I feel comfortable there.

Mimi: It’s a pretty small place.

You have five residents?

Phil: That is correct. That is one of the important things about the House of Care — we become a home. Our slogan is a personal-care home with a heart. We live in a residential home, right along Beaver Avenue.

Mimi: Describe the people who live there.

Phil: We are a personal-care home. I don’t think there is another home in Pennsylvania that serves the unique clients that we do. Folks come to us because they have no

family support or, if they do, it’s very minimal.

The family isn’t able to provide the care they need. They come to us because they have no finances. They may have a very small pension check or Social Security check. Other than that, they have no other income and likely have had limited income throughout their lives.

Mimi: And they are unable to work?

Phil: Right. And that is the third piece.

They have some type of debilitating illness, either physical or mental. They cannot survive independently on their own. We are different from a nursing home, though, because all of our residents are able to be mobile and function pretty well. They don’t need nursing care, they just need someone there to make sure they take their medication and get them to the doctors. We provide a place for them to live. We provide all the furnishing for their bedroom. Each one of them has their own private bedroom. We provide all the meals that they need, the food to cook those meals. Take them to their doctors’ appointments. We provide transportation wherever they need to go. So we become their family.

Mimi: They are your children.

Phil: They are in a lot of ways, yeah!

Mimi: Just how sick are they?

Phil: House of Care started in 2000. It was actually a group of women in State College who decided to start a house to provide hospice for AIDS patients. We really, for the first few years of operations, did a lot of hospice care with AIDS patients, but we evolved from that because of advances in medical technologies and medications, there is not a need to keep the beds filled. So now we provide care for folks who have all types of debilitating illnesses, from mental health to one client who has renal failure. He has dialysis three days a week. We take him to the dialysis center and provide the care for him at the home.

Mimi: Now they have Medicaid.

Phil: They do. We do everything for our residents, except care for their finances. We don’t do that. Through their Medicaid and Social Security, their bills and things are taken care of. We don’t get involved in their personal finances. If there is a resident who needs some finance management, we turn

to other organizations, such as Interfaith Human Services. The illnesses range from resident to resident.

Mimi: Are they related to addiction in many cases?

Phil: Not always. In fact, that is an exception.

We have had that in our home where some individuals did have some addiction issues and damaged their mental health. Normally, our residents, when they come to us — the youngest having been in their 40s — they come to us when they have illnesses that have evolved over the years and they can’t take care of themselves anymore. In a lot of cases, because they can’t afford the care they need they haven’t been taking medications that they need or going to their doctors on a regular basis. That is why we provide a stable environment where they can get back on their feet, and whatever problems or illnesses they do have, we can stabilize it. And we have remarkable success helping individuals coming to our home that really were struggling, both physically and mentally.

Mimi: Do they ever get out of the home?

Phil: They do. Occasionally they will. One woman had severe diabetes, and she did get help she needed for that in our home. Once we got her stabilized and her health was better and she was able to care and manage all of that by herself, her family could then take her home and manage her care by themselves.

Mimi: Are they rare?

Phil: They are rare. Although we don’t provide a lot of hospice care, over the last six to eight years, we had three residents who had been at the home for five to eight years and passed away.

Mimi: There are some homeless people on the streets of State College. Where do they live?

Phil: That is a good question. House of Care is not a shelter for the homeless. I have worked with a community program that helps with the homeless called Out of the Cold, and we get individuals who get into that program under the same reason they would come to us. We only have five beds — we can’t take them in. But many of the same issues are happening there.

Mental-health patients who are released from the hospital and other facilities and they have absolutely nowhere to go, so they end up living on the streets. That’s why six or eight years ago Centre County started Out of the Cold, which 2016 November T&G - 119

is an emergency homeless shelter where there are 13 partner congregations that host the homeless in their facility, two weeks at a time, from October through May. They move from church to church. One church would host them for two weeks and then another church will host them for two weeks throughout the winter. So they can get out of the cold, literally. That started because there was a gentleman in Bellefonte who froze to death on the streets, and that got the faith communities and social service agencies’ attention.

Mimi: Each church pays for its own expense?

Phil: Yes. We provide a meal for them when they come in at 9. We provide volunteers to stay with them overnight. We also provide a quick breakfast for them, and then they will be on their way at 7 in the morning. It’s a struggle because it is an emergency shelter, so we can’t provide everything.

Mimi: Every day in the week for two weeks!

Phil: Every day in the week for two weeks, from October through May. Tying it into House of Care is really hard for me because many individuals desperately just need what we can do at the House of Care. They need somebody to help them get back on their medications, on their feet, and get them to the doctors. If these individuals have that kind of support, they could cope on their own because often they are younger persons.

Mimi: Tell me how you manage financials.

Phil: We have a really small budget, $180,000 a year. Some people may disagree when I say this, but I consider this to be the most important $180,000 that comes through Centre County — for we are providing these residents help that they could not get anywhere else. If they didn’t have the House of Care, they could be homeless or they could be in a nursing home where they don’t necessarily need that kind of support, which costs a lot more taxpayer money in the long run. So it is really important for us to have the support for the work that we do. We receive funding from the United Way and Community Development Block Grant. Those are the two checks I can count on every month. We also receive generous support from other local foundations and grants. We generate a modest amount from our resident fees. We receive their Social Security check; we are mandated to give 120 - T&G November 2016

them $85 dollars for spending money. It costs us a little over $100 per day to provide the services, which includes 24/7 staff, housing, food, and transportation.

Mimi: I don’t see how you manage on $180,000 a year!

Phil: It is hard. We have six full-time employees and then myself, as executive director.

We struggle with that. We do own the house.

Initial funding came through the Community Development Grant — it paid for a lot of that.

Mimi: Where is your greatest financial need?

Phil: It’s day-to-day operations. There are grants out there that we are constantly looking for, but the grants are always tied to some specific projects. I have no problem getting a grant to put a new roof on the house, but it is hard to get a grant to get $200 dollars every week for groceries.

It’s really hard to find a grant to pay the salary for my staff, which is minimal at $9 an hour. So I have to turn to the public.

Mimi: And what part of your budget does the public currently supply?

Phil: A little over 50 percent, when you take out some of the grants and United Way funding. That leaves about 60 percent of our budget, or about $90,000 to $100,000, we have to raise through fund-raising and public donations. We have a core group of people that give generously every year, but it is a constant challenge to find folks to add to that. Centre Gives is operated by Centre Foundation and is an online tool that we have been using, and it has been growing. We got about $25,000 through that and matching dollars that came through normal Centre Foundation grants.

Mimi: What is the cost of running the place per day?

Phil: It is a little over $120 per day per resident. Our residents pay $30 per day. That is running out of a deficit of $450 per day where we were starting from. Every time I go to the board of directors meeting, I present a financial statement and I put a little note down on the bottom that we run at a deficit of $9,000 per month. Those are the dollars that I can’t identify where they are going to come from.

Mimi: So about $500 would pay for all five people. Maybe some of our readers, particularly this time of year, will count their blessings, and count how many people they want to take care of

for how many days. What you do is just amazing.

Phil: One thing I say to people is for $200 a week you can feed all five of our residents for that week. There are lots of ways you can help.

Mimi: I imagine that there is probably a demand that you can’t fill. Do you fill the demand that exists?

Phil: Absolutely not. I quit keeping a waiting list for residents because, with the nature of our residents, you don’t know how long they are going to be staying there. Someone might call on a Monday and say, “I really need a place for my dad to go; we can’t care for him anymore. He has to leave Centre Crest next week, and I don’t know what I am going to do with him.” I might have to say, “I don’t have room for him today.”

My dream is to have three or four of these homes.

I really like the feel of a personal-care home, a residential feeling. I don’t want a long hallway with rooms down the side.

Mimi: We talked about the area of mental health and the absence of service for patients with severe mental health. One of your patients currently has mental issues.

Phil: Currently at the home, we have five residents and three have mental health as their major diagnoses. There are usually other things involved. But there are so many more out there.

I am sure that some of your readers have a mom or dad or many even an older child who has mental-health concerns. How do we care for them? How do we ensure that they have a safe environment to live in when we pass away?

So it is critical to have more of these types of residences to care for them.

Mimi: Hospitals in Altoona and Huntingdon provide bus tickets for mentally ill people, discharged patients, to come to State College.

Phil: I will give you a quick story. One of our residents passed away in February, so we had an opening, so we got out the word with social service agencies immediately. We had four or five people who were prospective candidates for our care. I wanted to do a personal interview.

One of those individuals was at Mount Nittany Hospital, and I went and did an interview, and I determined that her larger challenge was mental health. I had another interview at Centre Crest.

She was in a nursing facility but no longer needed that level of care. She had to go somewhere and had no place to go. I did that interview and

decided her biggest challenge was physical. So I had to choose between a mental-health case and a physical case. I decided, based on the nature and makeup of our home at the time, that I would take the one with the physical challenges. I did the interview at the hospital with the person with the mental challenge on a Monday and found out on Tuesday that she had been released into our area emergency homeless shelter because she had nowhere else to go. That kind of thing breaks my heart.

Mimi: I must tell our readers that at different points in this conversation you get tears in your eyes. This last one, I saw those tears forming.

Phil: People who know me will not be surprised by that.

Mimi: I have to say that you are doing God’s work.

Phil: Well, in so many ways it is a ministry.

Mimi: What didn’t I ask you that you would like me to ask?

Phil: We had talked about this earlier, and I do want to emphasize that we have support from many within the faith community, but we always need more. There are three marvelous congregations who provide very generous support. They are the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, they provide financial support as well as wonderful volunteers; State College Presbyterian Church; and University Baptist & Brethren Church. All three are strong supporters. I would love to visit other congregations and faith communities to tell our story because, as I tell my board of directors every meeting, all we need to do is share our story — and that’s what we are doing in Town&Gown today — and the dollars will come.

Mimi: That is a good note in which to close this interview. I know that some of our readers will respond. I know from experience there has been some genuine generosity that follows some of these interviews about the remarkable social agencies that people like you run. Thank you for your great work.

Phil: Thank you for the opportunity to share. T&G For more information about House of Care, visit houseofcare.org.

2016 November T&G - 121

State College Photo Club’s

Winning Photos

The State College Photo Club provides photo enthusiasts with the opportunity to share their passion for photography with others and to provide an environment for learning and developing new skills. Town&Gown is pleased to present the winning images from the club’s competitions.

Shown this month are the first- and second-place winners in the Open category from the August meeting competition. The format for competition has changed from outside voting to member voting, including discussion of each photo submitted at meetings. The focus of this new format is to obtain feedback from each other and to share experiences.

August Meeting Theme “Open” First Place

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“Sunrise Over Penns View”

by David Whiteman

“The shot was taken over Penns View in the Bald Eagle State Forest. I got up at 4:45 a.m. and drove 45 minutes to get this shot at around 5:45 a.m. There is fog in the valley with the sunlight reflecting off it, illuminating the foreground. Normally you would see Penns Creek below in the valley.”

August Meeting Theme “Open” Second Place “Alsace” by James Valent

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“My last shot in the rain from Strasbourg, France.

Cathedral of Notre Dame in the distant background.”

A copy of many photos taken by members of the State College Photo Club may be obtained with a $75 contribution to the Salvation Army of Centre County. Contact Captain Charles Niedermeyer at (814) 861-1785 for more information.

The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium.

Visit statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join.

122 - T&G November 2016

19, 2016 10:00AM - 2:00PM

120 Vendors

Darren Andrew Weimert

T& G

snapshot

New Leader in Law Enforcement State College’s police chief looks to continue to build trust within the community

By Tine Liu John Gardner looks around his new office and laughs.

“Sorry, I didn’t get the time to put up anything on the walls yet, been busy,” he says.

When Gardner sits down to talk during one September afternoon, it has been only about a month since he became State College’s new police chief — he took over the position for Tom King, who had been police chief for 23 years, in early August.

A former community baseball coach, a Penn State graduate, veteran, husband, and father, Gardner joined the State College police department in 1990 after serving seven years in the Clearfield County Probation Office as chief juvenile probation officer. During his career in law enforcement, he has served various positions, including fieldtraining officer, background investigator, former drug task force member, criminal investigator, and detective.

“I always wanted to be a police officer, ever since I was in eighth grade,” he says.

He graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in individual and family studies from the College of Human Development. That gave him a better understanding about human relationships. During his last semester, he started working in probation as an intern. He eventually earned a master’s degree in administration of justice from Shippensburg University. In 2014, he successfully completed a 10-week long Police Executive and Leadership Command program at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

He is now police chief in a town that has been listed as one of the safest in the country. When dealing with young college students, Gardner says he always tries his best to relate to them and understand their perspective.

The State College Police Department encourages its officers to be problem solvers and critical thinkers.

Although immaturity is largely the reason why many students commit reckless acts, police officers must still hold those students accountable.

“The most important thing about working in a college town is that you cannot over react,” Gardner says. “Not all 124 - T&G November 2016

Chief John Gardner

police officers are capable of policing in a college town, especially officers who are used to dealing with hardcore criminals and are heavy-handed enforcers. We try to ensure that we have the best officers on our team.”

Finding those officers has become a challenge, in part because of the tense relationships between citizens and the police in other parts of the country. State College has taken steps to maintain a positive relationship between its police and local citizens. Gardner says that being able to sit down and communicate is the most important factor of resolving conflicts and misunderstandings.

“Our process is 100 percent transparent,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons we can build that steady trust within the community.”

Each month, State College police meets with Campus and Community in Unity (CCU), an organization that involves many minorities and underrepresented groups, to discuss issues concerning the community.

“We want to work with everyone,” Gardner says. “Open mindedness and open communication is the key to solve these misunderstandings. Police officers are people, too. They have friends and families to go back to. … Hopefully one day we will all benefit from our collaborative efforts.” T&G